The Trump administration has announced plans to revoke the temporary legal status of over half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who entered the U.S. legally. These migrants were allowed to enter the country through the CHNV program, which was suspended by Trump when he returned to office. The program aimed to provide legal pathways for migration and allowed migrants to stay in the U.S. for two years under a temporary immigration status known as parole. The Biden administration had argued that the program would help reduce illegal crossings at the southern border and enhance vetting of individuals entering the country.
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the Biden administration for the alleged failures of the CHNV program and claimed that it had granted opportunities to migrants to compete for American jobs, prompting accusations of undercutting American workers. The agency also accused career civil servants of promoting the program even when fraud was identified, and then blamed Republicans in Congress for the ensuing chaos and crime that followed. Despite this, the notice in the Federal Register indicated that some migrants under CHNV may be allowed to stay in the country on a case-by-case basis.
CHNV assisted over 213,000 Haitians, 120,700 Venezuelans, 110,900 Cubans, and more than 93,000 Nicaraguans in entering the U.S. amid deteriorating conditions in their home countries. However, last month, DHS announced plans to end temporary protected status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians living in the U.S., as well as for Venezuelans. TPS is granted to migrants from designated countries facing unsafe conditions, including armed conflict. The decision to end TPS for Venezuelans is currently being challenged in court.
Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has been working to remove both legal and illegal migrants from the U.S. as part of its immigration agenda, despite facing numerous legal challenges. Reports have also emerged that the administration is dismantling internal watchdogs for DHS, including its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which investigates allegations of abuse and discrimination within immigration enforcement. Overall, the revocation of legal status for over half a million migrants highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding U.S. immigration policies and enforcement efforts.
