The United States government has announced the termination of legal protections for approximately 532,000 immigrants, giving them just weeks to leave the country.
The affected individuals, primarily from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, had entered the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program initiated by the Biden administration in October 2022 and expanded in January 2023. This program allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month to enter and stay for two years.
However, under a new directive from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), these immigrants will lose their legal protection 30 days after the order is published in the Federal Register, scheduled for Tuesday, March 25. This means they must leave the U.S. by April 24 unless they secure another valid immigration status.
The decision aligns with President Donald Trump’s pledge to carry out what he calls the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history, particularly targeting migrants from Latin American nations.
In response, Welcome.US, an organization that supports refugees and asylum seekers, has urged those affected to seek immediate legal counsel regarding their options.
The DHS defended the move, emphasizing that parole was never meant to provide a pathway to permanent residency. “Parole is inherently temporary and does not constitute admission to the United States,” the department stated.
The announcement comes just days after Trump invoked emergency wartime measures to deport over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.
With immigration set to remain a major issue in the 2025 political landscape, the fate of these migrants remains uncertain as advocacy groups push for alternative solutions.
