The Trump administration is set to cancel the legal standing of more than half a million migrants who entered the US under a previous program aimed at easing migration from crisis-stricken countries. With the cancellation date nearing, there is uncertainty over how many will secure legal status to remain.
Trump’s Administration Moves to Revoke Legal Status for Migrants from Crisis Zones
Trump’s Administration Moves to Revoke Legal Status for Migrants from Crisis Zones
Over 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela face deportation as Trump announces the revocation of their temporary legal status.
The Trump administration has initiated plans to revoke the temporary legal status for an estimated 530,000 migrants hailing from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The move follows a federal notice warning individuals without a legal basis to remain in the country to depart before their work permits and protections against deportation are nullified on April 24.
These migrants entered the United States under a program known as CHNV, which was introduced during the Biden administration to create legal migration channels. However, this program was placed on hold when Trump assumed the presidency.
Although the exact number of migrants who have managed to obtain alternative legal status is unclear, many are now facing imminent deportation. Launched in 2022, the CHNV initiative initially targeted Venezuelans and was later extended to other nations, allowing migrants and their families to enter the US if they had American sponsors and granted them a temporary two-year parole status.
The Biden administration asserted that this program would aid in deterring illegal crossings at the southern border. Yet, the Department of Homeland Security has accused Trump’s administration of misinformation regarding the impact and execution of the CHNV program. According to their statements, the previous leadership "granted opportunities that undercut American workers," while blaming Republicans for the ensuing issues and crime.
Despite the revocation announcement, the 35-page federal notice mentioned that a select number of migrants under the CHNV program might be permitted to stay in the US on a "case-by-case basis." Additionally, Trump is reportedly contemplating canceling the temporary legal status for approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who escaped the ongoing conflict with Russia.
