Trump Revokes Legal Status of 530,000 Migrants, Paving Way for Mass Deportations

Trump Administration Withdraws Legal Shield from 530,000 Migrants, Potentially Preparing for En Masse Deportations

Washington, D.C. – The Donald Trump administration on Tuesday said it was canceling legal protections for 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans living in the United States, a step that could result in mass deportations in the next several months.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday confirmed that the migrants from the four countries who entered the U.S. after October 2022 under a financial sponsorship scheme will have their legal status expiring on April 24 or 30 days after the publication of the notice in the Federal Register. The move is a major change in immigration policy and overturns a parole program brought in by the previous President Joe Biden.

End of Biden’s Parole Program

The two-year “parole” under Biden permitted migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to come into the U.S. by air with financial sponsorship. This humanitarian parole system, previously employed to assist people fleeing political unrest or conflict, is being ended by the Trump administration, citing “broad abuse” of the system.

Under the DHS, individuals without a legal ground to stay in the U.S. are supposed to depart before their date of parole termination. Although some of the migrants may have pursued other legal protections, it is unknown how many have obtained permanent status.

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Intensifies

Since becoming president, Trump has strongly advanced tighter immigration controls, such as the move to expel illegal migrants in record numbers. Trump, in a January 20 executive order, demanded the end of parole programs launched under Biden on the grounds they went beyond federal legal authority.

Biden launched the parole program in 2022 for Venezuelan migrants and extended it in 2023 to Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans. The program was created to deal with increasing numbers of illegal immigration from these countries, but diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and the countries remain.

Deportation Concerns

The withdrawal of legal status may expose thousands to deportation if they decide to stay in the U.S. without other forms of protection. It is unclear how immigration officials will approach possible enforcement against those who remain after their parole has expired.

The action will fuel intense political discussion, since immigration continues to be a central issue in the next U.S. elections. Trump’s tough approach to border security and legal migration rules continues to drive the country’s debate, as both defenders and detractors respond to the most recent policy change.