Los Angeles, California – Migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela are facing the looming threat of having their temporary legal status revoked by the Trump administration in the United States. Over 530,000 individuals have been advised to depart the country before their permits and protection from deportation are terminated on April 24, according to a notice issued by the federal government.
These migrants were initially brought into the US under the CHNV sponsorship program implemented during the Biden administration. This initiative aimed to establish legal pathways for migration, but was suspended by Trump when he assumed office. The fate of these migrants remains uncertain as it is unclear how many have been able to secure alternative legal statuses permitting them to stay in the US.
The CHNV program was launched under President Joe Biden in 2022, starting with Venezuelans before expanding to include other nationalities. It allowed migrants and their immediate families to enter the US with American sponsors and reside for up to two years under temporary parole immigration status. The Biden administration believed the program would help control illegal border crossings and enhance the vetting process for those entering the country.
However, the Department of Homeland Security criticized the CHNV program, stating that it failed to achieve its intended goals. Despite this, some migrants currently in the US under CHNV may be allowed to stay on a case-by-case basis, as mentioned in the Federal Register. Advocates such as Karen Tumlin from the Justice Action Center have expressed intentions to challenge this decision through legal means.
In addition to potentially revoking the legal status of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, Trump is also contemplating ending the protection granted to around 240,000 Ukrainians who sought refuge in the US during the conflict with Russia. The CHNV program has facilitated the entry of over 213,000 Haitians into the US, along with thousands of individuals from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.
The recent actions taken by the Trump administration to terminate temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians and Venezuelans living in the US have faced legal pushback. TPS was provided to nationals of countries experiencing unsafe conditions, like armed conflicts or environmental disasters. As Trump’s immigration policies continue to encounter legal challenges since his inauguration in January, the fate of hundreds of thousands of migrants hangs in the balance.