Trump eliminates humanitarian parole: what does it have in store for its more than half a million beneficiaries?
Donald Trump removed the parole humanitarian of the Biden era just by setting foot in the White House. One of the 41 executive orders signed by the Republican this Monday refers to border security, and in it directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to “end all categorical parole programs that are contrary to United States policies established in my executive orders, including the program known as ‘Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans,’” the document says. This order also closed the CBP One application with which migrants in Mexico could request an appointment at one of the border points and opt for a measure that would allow them to legally enter the country.
The magnate had both programs in his sights. Last year, in the middle of the election campaign, he declared in an interview with FOX News that “planes loaded with illegal immigrants” were arriving in the country full of people who should not be in the country. “Prepare to leave, especially quickly if you are criminals. They are going to leave very quickly,” was his threat, materialized today.
Created in October 2022 and expanded in January 2023, the parole humanitarian law allowed immigrants first from Venezuela and then from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti to legally enter the United States after a financial sponsor made the request to immigration authorities. After receiving authorization, the beneficiaries received two years of stay in the country and a work permit. This was one of the measures that Democrats put in place to reduce illegal border crossings, which reached their lowest levels last December, with a 98% reduction, according to the DHS.
Official figures also indicate that more than half a million immigrants benefited from the initiative, which allowed the arrival of some 30,000 immigrants per month. The most favored were Haitians, with 211,040 immigrants, followed by Venezuelans with 117,330, Cubans with 110,240 and Nicaraguans with 93,070.
Last September, the program was reactivated after a pause that began in July. The DHS confirmed an internal review to address irregularities due to signs of fraud in some applications. From then on, greater control began on the criminal records of the sponsors and their financial statements. In October, the Biden Administration reported that the measure would expire after the stipulated two years, forcing thousands of people to find other methods to remain in the country or face deportation. For immigrants from the four countries in question, return is not an option because their places of origin continue to be affected by intense political and socioeconomic conflicts.
In this sense, the elimination of parole ordered by Trump means that no more applications will be processed, and immigrants who were waiting for their travel authorization will no longer receive it. Those who did receive it and did not travel (despite the grace time they had to arrive to the United States) will not be able to do so either. This is the case of the 3,200 Nicaraguans who had a travel authorization last month that is now void.
In statements to EL PAÍS, the lawyer specialized in immigration matters, Ezequiel Hernández, explains that the beneficiaries of the program still have options for their permanence beyond the granted period. “The people who came with him parole is legally here even if Trump says otherwise,” and continues, “but if these people intend to remain in the country beyond the two years granted, they have to introduce asylum (in the first year of having entered), convene the Treaty against Torture or receiving a withholding of expulsion from a judge (Withholding of removal) that prevents the deportation of people who fear being persecuted in their countries. The latter is an alternative to asylum,” he says.
For his part, lawyer Ángel Leal adds that everything will depend on the nationality of the immigrants. “In the case of Cubans, they will be able to benefit from the Cuban Adjustment Law. In the Venezuelan case, if they entered the country before July 31, 2023, they will have the option of requesting the Temporary Protection Treaty (TPS). This is also the case for Haitians. Those who entered before June 2, 2024, may request TPS. In the case of Nicaraguans, only those who qualify will be able to apply for asylum. The change or adjustment of status must be made before the expiration of the parole because if they don’t, they are in danger of deportation,” he commented. The new Administration has also just ended the right to asylum, but this only affects immigrants at the border.
