The United States has announced the revocation of temporary legal protections for over 5 lakh migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, putting them at risk of deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the affected individuals, who arrived since October 2022 under the humanitarian parole programme, would lose their legal status by 24th April 2025, or 30 days after the publication of the notice in the Federal Register.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that those affected came to the US with financial sponsors and were granted two-year permits to live and work in the country.
However, the new order requires them to leave the US unless they secure a lawful basis to remain. The decision impacts individuals already present in the country under the humanitarian parole, which was introduced to accommodate those from conflict-ridden or politically unstable regions.
This move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s campaign promises to restrict immigration and deport individuals residing in the US illegally.
The administration had previously criticised what it viewed as the "broad abuse" of humanitarian parole, leading to this termination. The DHS emphasised that "parole is inherently temporary" and does not grant a pathway to permanent immigration status.
The decision has already been met with legal challenges, with a coalition of American citizens and immigrants filing a lawsuit to reinstate the humanitarian parole programmes for the four affected nationalities.
Karen Tumlin, founder of the Justice Action Center, condemned the policy as "reckless, cruel, and counterproductive," predicting chaos and distress for families and communities.
The Biden administration had previously allowed up to 30,000 migrants from the four countries to enter the US legally each month for two years, with work eligibility.
Simultaneously, Mexico agreed to take back the same number of migrants deported by the US. However, Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, known for their strained relations with the US, have largely resisted accepting deportees.
Haiti, despite facing severe political instability, has been more receptive to deportation flights.
The CHNV policy, under which over half a million people entered the US, was part of the Biden administration's strategy to promote lawful entry while deterring illegal border crossings.
However, the revocation of temporary status threatens to undo this approach, raising questions about the future of immigration policies in the country.
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