President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise to restore America’s borders, targeting over half a million migrants who entered under Biden’s controversial humanitarian parole program. The administration is preparing to revoke legal status for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela as part of Trump’s broader America First immigration agenda.
At a glance:
• Trump administration is revoking legal status of approximately 532,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who entered under Biden-era policies
• Affected migrants arrived since October 2022 with financial sponsors and were granted two-year permits to live and work in the US
• Revocation takes effect April 24, 2025, with DHS seeking deportation of those who don’t self-deport within 30 days
• Department of Homeland Security criticized the program as “loosely vetted” and harmful to American workers
Trump Restores Order to Immigration System
The Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Biden’s parole program that allowed over half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter and remain in the United States. The decision reflects President Trump’s commitment to reverse broad abuse of humanitarian programs implemented during the previous administration.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin explained that the program was “loosely vetted” and ultimately undercut American workers by flooding the job market with foreign labor. The program originally permitted up to 30,000 people monthly from these four countries to enter the U.S. for two-year periods with work eligibility.
According to official notices, the revocation will take effect on April 24, 2025, providing a 30-day window after publication in the Federal Register. Migrants are being encouraged to use the CBP Home smartphone app to register for self-deportation before authorities begin targeted enforcement actions.
America First Immigration Enforcement
The Trump administration has made it clear that humanitarian parole is a temporary measure and was never intended as a pathway to permanent residency. In an official statement, DHS emphasized: “Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status.”
“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,” said DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. The policy shift aligns with President Trump’s campaign promises to prioritize the interests of American citizens and workers above foreign nationals.
Immigration officials now have the authority to target migrants for arrest even before the 30-day grace period ends, especially those who have not applied for other immigration benefits. The administration has made it clear that those who fail to comply with self-deportation requirements will face enforcement actions.
While critics like immigration attorney Karen Tumlin have called the decision “reckless, cruel and counterproductive,” supporters of the President’s policy point to the strain these migrants have placed on American resources. The Trump administration maintains that the original program created incentives for illegal immigration while bypassing proper vetting procedures.
The implementation of the new policy faces logistical challenges as the U.S. has limited deportation agreements with the countries involved. Cuba has accepted only limited deportation flights, while Venezuela and Nicaragua have refused to accept any deportees from the United States.
Haiti, though accepting many deportees, continues to face severe internal turmoil that complicates return efforts. During the Biden administration, Mexico had agreed to accept a certain number of migrants from these nations, but the continuation of this arrangement under President Trump remains unclear.
Legal challenges to the revocation have already begun, with lawsuits filed seeking to reinstate the humanitarian parole programs. However, the administration appears confident in its legal authority to terminate temporary protection programs that were implemented through executive action rather than congressional legislation.