Washington DC: The Trump administration has announced it will revoke the temporary legal status of more than 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), instructing them to leave the US before April 24 when their permits and deportation shields expire.
The affected individuals were admitted under the Biden-era CHNV sponsorship program, which Trump suspended upon taking office.
CHNV, introduced in 2022, initially covered Venezuelans before expanding to other nationalities. It allowed migrants and their immediate families to enter the US legally with an American sponsor and remain under a two-year temporary parole status.
The Biden administration had argued that the program helped reduce illegal border crossings, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now contends it failed in its goals.
In a statement, DHS criticized the previous administration, stating that the program granted migrants job opportunities at the expense of American workers and led to fraud, crime, and border chaos.
It remains unclear how many of these migrants have been able to secure alternative legal status. However, the Federal Register notice indicates that some may be allowed to remain in the US on a case-by-case basis.
Trump is also reviewing the possible revocation of legal protections for 240,000 Ukrainian refugees who fled Russia’s invasion. In addition, DHS recently announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians by August and halted TPS for Venezuelans, though the latter decision faces legal challenges.
Since taking office in January, Trump’s immigration policies have faced legal obstacles, with ongoing litigation expected as his administration moves forward with these changes.
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