The Department of Homeland Security has announced the termination of humanitarian parole programs for roughly 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), ending temporary protections that allowed them to live and work legally in the United States for up to two years.
The policy shift, announced under the Trump administration, follows through on plans first outlined by the Biden administration in October 2024 to sunset the CHNV program.
The Trump administration has now formalized the decision, with DHS confirming that the programs will be officially terminated on April 24, 2025.
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Migrants affected by the change are being instructed to leave the U.S. before their individual parole period expires or risk facing deportation proceedings.
“Although originally intended to enhance border security and offer lawful alternatives to irregular migration, the CHNV parole programs no longer align with this administration’s policy direction and fail to serve a significant public benefit,” DHS stated in its official notice.
The CHNV humanitarian parole initiative was first launched by the Biden administration in October 2022, beginning with Venezuelan nationals and later expanding to include Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans in early 2023.
The program aimed to stem chaotic border crossings by allowing migrants to fly directly into the U.S. if they had American sponsors and passed vetting.
Since its launch, government data shows that over 530,000 migrants entered the U.S. legally under this policy:
- 214,000 Haitians
- 117,000 Venezuelans
- 111,000 Cubans
- 96,000 Nicaraguans
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These migrants received temporary “parole” status, a discretionary immigration tool allowing entry for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
While some immigrant advocates had hoped for parole extensions—as was granted to Afghan and Ukrainian parolees—the Biden administration signaled in late 2024 that no such extensions would be offered to CHNV recipients.
The Trump administration has now confirmed that decision and extended it as a formal policy, saying the CHNV programs deviated from the narrow intent of parole authority.
“Parole was always meant to be a case-by-case determination, not a categorical program,” the DHS statement read. “Continuing these programs would place additional strain on federal resources and undermine long-term immigration enforcement goals.”
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Migrants whose parole periods are nearing expiration will be instructed to either apply for other immigration statuses or voluntarily depart the country. Those who stay past their authorized period may be subject to expedited removal or placed in immigration court.
Some immigration advocates criticized the move, arguing that many CHNV recipients have integrated into American communities and filled labor shortages. Others said the lack of a re-parole option could place migrants in legal limbo, especially those awaiting backlogged asylum or visa proceedings.
While the Biden administration initiated the phase-out, President Trump’s DHS has adopted and expanded the policy in line with its more restrictive approach to immigration. The Trump White House has framed the change as part of a broader effort to restore “order and accountability” to the immigration system and refocus on enforcement.
The move is likely to trigger legal challenges and political debate, particularly as immigration remains a top-tier issue heading into the 2026 midterms.
For now, the message to CHNV migrants is clear: seek another legal path, or prepare to leave.
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