According to the Trump administration, approximately 530,000 migrants will have their legal status terminated. Those impacted include Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans, who were allowed immigration through a program started by former President Joe Biden.

Unless they are granted a new legal status, these individuals are required to depart the United States by April 24, according to confirmation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

A Sudden Policy Shift

Under the parole scheme implemented during Biden’s administration, up to 30,000 migrants could be granted temporary entrance each month. Offering a legal route was intended to ease tensions at the U.S.-Mexico border. Under this program, if they had sponsors in the United States, migrants might come by plane.

Since retaking office, Trump has adopted a tough stance against immigration. According to his administration, the parole program went beyond what was allowed by federal law.

He issued an executive order terminating it on January 20. According to the soon-to-be-published DHS notification, parole is a stopgap solution that does not confer permanent status.

Deportation is now a possibility for many of the impacted migrants. Their placement in “expedited removal,” a procedure that expedites deportations, has been announced by the authorities.

Legal and Humanitarian Concerns

Immigration rights organizations have denounced the action. The government is failing to fulfill its obligations to these migrants and their sponsors, according to Karen Tumlin, director of the Justice Action Center. Families and communities would suffer as a result, she said.

Immigration attorney Nicolette Glazer emphasized the scope of the issue. She pointed out that the majority of parolees are unprotected because only 75,000 asylum petitions have been submitted. The environment is chaotic, she said.

A coalition of immigrants and U.S. citizens sued to reinstate the parole program. They contend that individuals who had depended on it would suffer needless suffering if it were terminated.

Trump is thinking about taking more action in the interim. He has said he will make a decision soon on whether to deny parole to 240,000 Ukrainians who fled to the United States because of the conflict with Russia.

Uncertain Future for Migrants

The fate of the impacted migrants is yet unknown. Venezuela has said that it will start sending people back to their home countries after they were compelled to leave the United States. The Venezuelan administration has promised to assist its nationals in returning home and has underlined that migration is not a crime.

The goal of the Biden-era parole program was to handle migration more compassionately. But hundreds of thousands now risk deportation as a result of Trump’s policy change. The issue has raised legal challenges and general worries about the effects on immigrant communities.

FAQS

Why did the Trump administration deny these migrants their parole?

According to Trump’s administration, Biden’s parole program went beyond the law. Officials believe parole is meant for urgent humanitarian instances, not large-scale migration. Trump terminated the program by an executive order, claiming it violated current immigration regulations.

Can migrants apply for asylum before deportation?

Yes, but not everyone will be eligible. Applicants must demonstrate a legitimate fear of persecution back home to be granted asylum. Many might not have legal protection before their parole expires because only 75,000 asylum petitions have been submitted thus far.