Revocation of Legal Status for Over Half a Million Migrants in the US

The Biden-era CHNV sponsorship program, aimed at facilitating legal migration, is set for cancellation, leaving many uncertain about their future.

In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has announced plans to revoke the temporary legal status of over half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This unprecedented move has raised concerns among the migrant communities affected, as they face a looming deadline to leave the country before their work permits and deportation protections are cancelled on April 24.

These 530,000 migrants arrived in the U.S. under the Biden-era sponsorship process known as CHNV, designed to create legal migration pathways. However, upon taking office, Trump suspended the program, leaving many in a state of uncertainty regarding their legal status. The federal notice indicates that migrants must prepare to vacate the country unless they can secure alternative legal status.

The CHNV program, initiated under President Joe Biden in 2022, originally focused on Venezuelans before expanding to include other nations in need. It permitted migrants and their families to enter the U.S., provided they obtained American sponsors, allowing them to stay for two years under a temporary status known as parole. The Biden administration defended the initiative as a means to reduce illegal crossings at the southern border.

However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has criticized the previous administration, alleging it misled the public. According to DHS, claims were made that migrants were competing with American workers, while concerns about fraud were overlooked in favor of continued promotion of the program.

Despite the cancellation notice, the DHS stated that some individuals under CHNV might still be eligible to remain in the U.S. based on a "case-by-case basis" assessment. Additionally, Trump is considering rescinding temporary legal status for around 240,000 Ukrainians who sought refuge during the ongoing conflict with Russia, further complicating the immigration landscape in the U.S.