The United States is set to deport over half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela following a new directive from the Department of Homeland Security, with legal protections under a humanitarian parole program expected to end by April 24.
The directive follows a pledge by former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to execute what he calls the largest deportation operation in US history if elected again.
The move directly affects approximately 532,000 migrants who entered the US under the CHNV (Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans) scheme—a policy launched by the Biden administration in 2022 and expanded in 2023 to curb illegal border crossings while offering a legal pathway for vulnerable migrants.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified on Friday that the CHNV parole was never intended to offer long-term residency, emphasizing:
“Parole is inherently temporary and does not provide a pathway to permanent immigration status.”
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Under the order, migrants must secure an alternative immigration status or leave the US by April 24, 30 days after the policy’s revocation is officially published.
A Humanitarian Concern
Immigration advocates warn that the sudden end of the program could trigger mass instability, especially for families who have already built lives in the US.
“Only about 75,000 asylum applications were filed by CHNV parolees,” said California-based immigration lawyer Nicolette Glazer. “The vast majority will soon be without legal status, work permits, or protection from removal. The chaos will be unreal.”
Impact on Venezuelans and Other Migrants
The move particularly affects Venezuelans, many of whom fled their crisis-stricken country due to political repression and economic collapse under President Nicolas Maduro. Over 7 million Venezuelans have left their country in the last decade, making it one of the world’s largest displacement crises.
Trump has doubled down on his hardline immigration stance, even invoking wartime laws to deport alleged gang members to El Salvador, which has controversially offered to detain migrants—including US citizens—on behalf of the United States.
Call to Action
Humanitarian organizations such as Welcome.US are urging migrants affected by the CHNV order to immediately consult immigration lawyers and explore legal options to remain in the US.
As the April deadline looms, legal experts predict a surge in asylum requests and immigration court battles, with hundreds of thousands at risk of losing their livelihoods and being returned to unstable regions.
