The Trump administration has revoked legal status for 500,000 migrants, ordering them to leave by April 24
In a sweeping move to dismantle Biden-era immigration policies, the Trump administration has revoked the legal status of over 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the decision in a notice posted on Monday, giving affected individuals just 30 days to leave the country.
The administration is terminating “categorical parole programs” that previously allowed migrants from these nations to temporarily live and work in the U.S. The programs required applicants to pass background checks and secure a financial sponsor, granting them permission to stay for up to two years.
Migrants in these programs must depart by April 24—one month after the policy’s publication in the Federal Register. The move is part of a broader effort by the administration to clamp down on what it describes as “indiscriminate” immigration policies enacted under President Biden.
“The Biden-Harris Administration abused the humanitarian parole program to allow 1.5 million migrants into our country. This was all stopped on day one of the Trump Administration,” DHS said in a statement.
The Trump administration had already signaled in January that it intended to phase out parole programs, which provided a temporary legal pathway for certain migrants. These programs allowed individuals fleeing political instability and economic hardship to seek refuge in the U.S.
The decision is expected to trigger widespread legal challenges and could leave thousands facing deportation with limited options. Advocacy groups argue that many of the affected individuals have built lives in the U.S. and could face severe consequences if forced to return to their home countries.
With the deadline looming, immigration rights organisations are scrambling to provide legal aid and explore potential protections for those affected. Meanwhile, the administration remains firm in its stance, doubling down on its commitment to reversing Biden-era immigration policies.
For over half a million migrants, the countdown has begun, with the future uncertain and the clock ticking toward mass removal.
