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By Anna Commander
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The Department of Homeland Security announced a new action on Friday, revoking a Biden administration age parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.
Why It Matters
Since his January 20 inauguration, President Donald Trump has implemented sweeping change, mainly through executive orders, and prioritized immigration.
Read More on U.S.
Over the weekend, Trump implemented the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law that grants the commander-in-chief the authority to detain or deport non-citizens. The implementation was blocked in federal court and has sparked a contentious legal back and forth this week.
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What To Know
In a notice posted to the Federal Registrar on Friday, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) parole program.
The notice says that the parole program period is 30 days after the date of publication. "Parolees without a lawful basis to remain in the United States following this termination of the CHNV parole programs must depart the United States before their parole termination date," the notice says.
In an email to Newsweek Friday evening, a DHS official said: "The previous administration lied to America. They allowed more than half a million loosely vetted aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela and their immediate family members to enter the United States through these disastrous parole programs; granted them opportunities to compete for American jobs and undercut American workers; forced career civil servants to promote the programs even when fraud was identified; and then blamed Republicans in Congress for the chaos that ensued and the crime that followed."
The statement continued, "The termination of the CHNV parole programs, and the termination of parole for those who exploited it, is a return to common-sense policies, a return to public safety, and a return to America First."
The humanitarian program was previously paused last August under former President Joe Biden out of "an abundance of caution" to look into allegations of fraudulent applications.
Approximately 532,000 individuals who benefited from this program will lose their legal status on April 24, 2025, which is 30 days after the notice's publication in the Federal Register, according to the Associated Press.
The decision to revoke the program has been met with legal opposition. A group comprising American citizens and immigrants has filed a lawsuit challenging the termination, seeking to reinstate the humanitarian parole provisions.
What People Are Saying
Project for Immigration Reform, whose policy positions on immigration align with conservative values, posted on X in response to Fox News' Bill Melugin's posting of the parole program's revocation: "This is great! The CBP One App parole program was illegal."
The Federation for American Immigration Reform, which says they fight for "a stronger America with controlled borders, reduced immigration and better enforcement" but has been subject of controversy, said on X: "Abuse of the CBP One app and the unlawful CHNV mass parole program have been disasters for America.
"Those programs need to be shut down and Remain in Mexico must come back.
"Kristi Noem says she and President Trump will do just that."
Michael Bustamante, associate professor at the University of Miami and Emilio Bacardà Moreau Chair in Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, said on X: "Wow.
"So not only did they end the new issuance of parole under the CNHV program on day 1. Looks like they're pulling the status from those who have it, adding to ranks of those with undocumented status and putting targets on their backs.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, commonly known as Gibson Dunn, is a prominent international law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and established in 1890, wrote on its website: "Individuals affected by this policy change should consult with immigration attorneys or accredited representatives to assess their eligibility for alternative immigration benefits. It's crucial to act promptly, as certain applications have strict deadlines and processing times."
What's Next:
Legal challenges to the revocation of the CHNV parole program are expected as immigration advocates and affected communities push back against the policy change. Meanwhile, individuals impacted by the decision are being urged to explore alternative legal pathways, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or asylum applications, to maintain their residency.
Update 03/21/25 7:59 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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