In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration announced on Friday the revocation of legal status for more than 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This decision, which will take effect on April 24, comes as President Trump intensifies his efforts to reshape immigration policies and enforce stricter border controls.

The move affects individuals who entered the U.S. under a parole program initiated by former President Joe Biden, allowing for temporary residency and work permits for those sponsored financially by American citizens. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that these migrants must leave the U.S. by the deadline unless they secure alternative legal immigration status.

The program, known as CHNV (Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans), has been a focal point of Biden's strategy to reduce illegal border crossings. However, Trump has labeled the program an overreach and has argued that it contributes to undermining public safety and the American job market. According to a DHS statement, “Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status.” Source

This legal change puts hundreds of thousands of people at risk of deportation if they fail to secure other immigration benefits, which has sparked intense backlash from advocacy groups. Karen Tumlin, head of the Justice Action Center, criticized the administration’s decision, stating that revoking lawful status is “going to cause needless chaos and heartbreak” across America.

With the recent legal challenges prompting concerns about the welfare of the affected immigrants, many have begun exploring their options to appeal or change their immigration status, as advised by various legal aid organizations. Source

While alleviating border pressures was a stated goal of the Biden administration's CHNV program, the Trump administration has returned to a policy of heightened enforcement. As the situation develops, advocates for immigrant rights continue to mobilize in opposition to these changes. Source

This policy adjustment is viewed as part of Trump's broader immigration agenda, emphasizing a hardline approach that includes significant cuts to legal migration pathways and expansive deportation efforts. Source