The Trump administration is set to revoke the legal status of hundreds of thousands of Latin American and Haitian immigrants who entered the U.S. under a Biden-era sponsorship program. Affected individuals are being urged to leave voluntarily or face arrest and deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the termination of work permits and deportation protections under the parole authority will take effect in late April, 30 days after March 25.
This decision impacts immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who arrived under the Biden administration’s CHNV program, which aimed to provide legal migration pathways while reducing illegal border crossings.
A total of 532,000 migrants entered the U.S. under CHNV before the policy was paused shortly after President Trump took office. However, it remains unclear how many have secured an alternative legal status allowing them to stay.
DHS officials have stated that individuals affected by this policy must leave the U.S. within 30 days or risk being detained and deported. The government is urging migrants to use the CBP Home smartphone app to register for self-deportation.
While officials have emphasized voluntary departure, DHS retains the authority to begin enforcement actions immediately, even before the deadline. Migrants who fail to apply for another legal status, such as asylum or a green card, will be prioritized for arrest and removal.
The CHNV parole program was introduced by the Biden administration as part of an effort to manage migration flows and reduce illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. It allowed migrants from four specific countries to fly directly to the U.S. and secure temporary legal status, including work authorization.
However, the Trump administration has been critical of parole-based immigration policies, arguing that they encourage mass migration and overstep executive authority.
This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten immigration policies and increase enforcement measures. Since taking office, Trump has taken steps to curtail Biden-era immigration programs, scale back humanitarian protections, and ramp up deportations.
While some CHNV migrants may qualify for alternative legal pathways, many will lose their ability to work legally and remain in the U.S. without protection from deportation. Immigration advocates have warned that this policy shift could leave thousands in legal limbo and force some to return to unstable or dangerous conditions in their home countries.
Meanwhile, immigration enforcement agencies are preparing for an increase in deportation operations targeting those who fail to leave before the deadline.
The administration’s message is clear: Migrants who benefited from the CHNV program must depart the U.S. by late April or risk facing arrest and forced removal. DHS is urging affected individuals to take action now before enforcement ramps up in the coming weeks.