Over 530,000 Migrants Face Deportation as U.S. Revokes Legal Status

Over 530,000 migrants are currently at risk of deportation after the U.S. government announced it will revoke the legal status of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. According to the Guardian, these migrants were granted temporary protection under a Biden-era program. The sweeping change is set to take effect on April 24.

The decision is part of a continuation of the Trump administration’s stance against the use of humanitarian parole, a program meant to temporarily shelter individuals from war or political instability. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified that parole is not a path to permanent status, and those affected must leave the country unless they have another lawful basis to stay.

The Guardian reported that while President Trump has hinted at expanding this policy to include 240,000 Ukrainians, there is uncertainty over how many migrants from the four affected countries will be able to find other legal avenues to remain. The policy, part of broader efforts to curb illegal immigration, has already sparked legal challenges. A lawsuit filed by citizens and immigrant groups claims the revocation will lead to “needless chaos and heartbreak” for thousands of families, The Guardian reported.

Karen Tumlin, founder of the Justice Action Centre, criticised the move, calling it “reckless, cruel and counterproductive.” The legal battle over this decision is set to unfold in federal courts in the coming months.