The Trump administration is set to strip the temporary legal status of over 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela living in the United States, with the move announced by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.
This decision marks another major step in Trump’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration policies.
The Shift in Immigration Policy
The individuals affected by this new policy had arrived in the U.S. under a humanitarian program known as CHNV (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela), introduced under the Biden administration.
This program has faced substantial criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
The DHS has confirmed that these migrants, who came to the U.S. since October 2022, will lose their legal status on April 24, 2025.
The decision also raises concerns for the 240,000 Ukrainians who sought refuge in the U.S. following Russia’s invasion in 2021.
While the situation for these individuals remains uncertain, Trump has considered ending their legal status as well, long before recent tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine.
Trump’s Promise and the Legal Status of Migrants
This latest development reflects Trump’s ongoing commitment to fulfilling his campaign promise of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants.
The newly announced measures indicate that migrants, who were initially allowed into the country with financial sponsors and given two-year permits to live and work in the U.S., will now face deportation unless they can secure new legal standing.
Kristi Noem emphasized that these migrants must depart before their parole termination date, stressing that “parole is inherently temporary” and does not provide a pathway to permanent residency.
Impact on Federal Benefits and State Concerns
The migrants who are losing their legal status have been receiving federal benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps, and welfare.
The financial burden on the U.S. government has been a subject of controversy, especially in relation to Haitian migrants.
If every Haitian migrant enrolled in Medicaid, it would cost approximately $1.8 billion.
Additionally, the cost for food stamps and general welfare benefits would amount to over $3.4 billion, according to analysis by DailyMail.com.
Critics argue that the program has placed an undue strain on state resources, particularly in states like Florida, Texas, and Arkansas, where additional costs for healthcare, education, and law enforcement have been a point of contention.
Legal Challenges and Opposition
This policy shift has already led to a flurry of legal challenges.
A group of American citizens and immigrant rights organizations filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to restore the humanitarian parole program for the affected nationalities.
Activists have criticized the move as “reckless and cruel,” with Karen Tumlin, the founder of the Justice Action Center, calling it “counterproductive” and harmful to families across the nation.
The decision to end the CHNV program also follows previous legal battles from Republican-led states, who have argued that the program encourages illegal immigration and burdens local governments.
These states have fought to block the program, claiming it creates additional costs without offering a solution for those who might otherwise have entered the country illegally.
Deportation Flights and Ongoing Turmoil
Countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua have been resistant to accepting deportation flights from the U.S., with Cuba agreeing to accept one flight per month and Venezuela and Nicaragua refusing to cooperate.
Haiti, on the other hand, has been more open to accepting deportations, especially during times of heightened migration.
However, Haiti’s ongoing political instability has hindered efforts to return migrants to their home country.
The Broader Impact of the CHNV Program
Since the program’s inception in late 2022, more than half a million people have arrived in the U.S. under CHNV.
The program was part of the Biden administration’s broader approach to control illegal immigration while encouraging legal pathways for migrants.
However, this latest move from the Trump administration has reignited debate about the future of immigration policy in the U.S.