Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan Families Face Looming U.S. Deadline
More than 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela reside in the United States. CHNV, a “parole” initiative, once safeguarded this population, but the program was terminated. Before April 24, these individuals risk deportation. The cause is the prior administration’s choice to stop the temporary legal safeguards and job permits.
Revoked Parole Program Shocks Immigrant Communities
The sudden termination of the CHNV program caused unease and worry among Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan immigrant populations. To many, parole offers sole protection from deportation and an opportunity to start new lives within the United States. With more than 530,000 individuals previously protected by this measure, the looming April 24 deadline now feels like a ticking clock—each day that passes shrinks the window for any legal recourse.
On Tuesday, the White House declared a reversal. It officially canceled the benefit, which allowed certain immigrants to reside and have jobs here. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, gave remarks to EFE. According to her, the choice constitutes “a return to sensible policies, public safety next to putting America first.” But for people who gained from CHNV, those words signify a frightening possibility of relocation.
Under the CHNV framework, all individuals with a U.S.-based sponsor received permission for a temporary stay. This provision was intended to aid individuals who escaped political instability, economic hardship, and violence in their native countries. They obtained work permits, which allowed many to take crucial positions in American industries. But now, this temporary aid has disappeared, and they face legal uncertainty.
Government Rationale and Policy Shifts
The Trump administration cites information from the Department of Homeland Security. It asserts the program “does not bring significant public benefit.” Further, the administration claims it “is no longer necessary to reduce illegal immigration.” Officials contend it damaged foreign policy objectives. They do not believe the program helps the public. Furthermore, the administration argues that CHNV has overloaded the immigration system, with some 75,000 new asylum applications allegedly linked to beneficiaries of this parole.
The White House shared statements with EFE, asserting that the immigration courts’ caseload—more than 3.6 million unresolved cases—became bigger because of programs like CHNV. They claim these pathways spurred more people to enter the country. As part of this reversal, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plans to cancel work permits given under CHNV, alongside travel authorization applications awaiting a decision.
However, the government believes that efficient immigration processes better safeguard public safety and national interests. Critics cite the policy’s quick end, stating it disregards the human consequences and intricate situations of people who depended on it.
Few Options to Remain in the United States
For most CHNV recipients, the sense of urgency is overwhelming. If they lack any other legal basis to remain—such as an asylum claim, a U-visa petition for crime victims, or other legal statuses—they must leave the country before April 24 to avoid immediate deportation. Once that date arrives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials can prioritize them for removal.
Those who exit voluntarily must report their departure via the CBP Home application after crossing a land border or leaving through another port of entry. In practical terms, many beneficiaries are left with the dreaded choice between rushing to file for an alternative relief (if eligible) or packing their bags and returning to circumstances they once left behind under duress.
A Haitian woman spoke with EFE. The agency did not disclose her name because of concerns about retribution. She admitted she feels “desperate plus alone.” According to her, parole offers a chance to work. As a certified aide, she provided for relatives in her homeland. But the program’s end places her at risk. A return to the life she fled is now a concern.
Economic and Humanitarian Impact
The consequences reach beyond just the immigrants involved. In declarations presented to EFE, Todd Schulte, the president of FWD.us, an organization that supports immigrants, characterized ending CHNV as “a misguided approach that will destabilize lives, harm these communities, and ultimately hurt all Americans.” He emphasized that presidents from both parties have used parole authority for seven decades, underscoring that the now-defunct program represented a “crucial improvement” in the U.S. immigration framework.
Schulte also cited economic data that starkly illustrates the potential consequences. As many as 240,000 individuals working under CHNV permissions will lose their jobs if they are forced to leave—positions that range from manufacturing to hospitality, construction, and healthcare. According to FWD.us estimates, 40,000 jobs are in manufacturing, 30,000 in leisure and hospitality, 30,000 in construction, and 30,000 in healthcare. Removing this segment from the labor force could strain industries grappling with workforce shortages.
Beyond the statistics, the emotional toll on these communities defies calculation. Many parolees actively worked to repair bonds with kin or began new lives in states that welcomed them. Some launched small businesses, registered their kids in local schools, and established solid support structures. These people face concerns about possible outcomes if they lose their legal status.
For immigration supporters, the end of CHNV ignores serious human rights problems in Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua, in addition to Venezuela. Existing government control, social disturbance, and monetary lack of stability still cause significantly unsafe circumstances in these nations. The parole initiative was, for many individuals, the sole workable method for safety plus a superior existence.
The executive branch appears to be studying similar programs for Ukrainian and Afghan individuals. These currently give temporary status to about 270,000 and 70,000 people, respectively.
However, a more significant concern arises with the “CHNV” program essentially over. Other methods to offer humanitarian assistance could diminish or disappear shortly.
Immigrant rights organizations and several members of Congress have already launched campaigns demanding that the administration reconsider this abrupt policy shift. While legal challenges may arise, time is not on the side of the hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who now must make life-altering decisions within a matter of weeks.
For a short time, the Trump administration’s stance seems firm—it offers no reprieve or alternative after the April 24 deadline. Individuals subject to the ended parole program now have to evaluate their alternatives quickly: They can risk remaining without authorization or return to the problematic—at times perilous—situations they previously escaped.
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These alterations create a great deal of emotional difficulty for affected persons. They foresaw distress after hoping for a stable life in the United States. At an immigration location, a Cuban father told EFE, and he voiced a typical sentiment: “I’ve built a life here. If I have to leave, I’m unsure how to start over again. But they’ve left me with no other choice.”
