Payam Javan: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on March 21 that over 530,000 immigrants admitted under the Biden-era CHNV humanitarian parole program will have their legal status revoked by April 24. The program, launched in 2022, allowed individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela with U.S. sponsors to enter the country. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that individuals without a lawful basis to stay must leave the U.S. by the parole termination date. The move follows concerns about fraud in sponsorship applications and marks a major shift in immigration policy under President Trump’s administration.

The CHNV program, which permitted up to 30,000 monthly entries, was suspended in August 2024 after an internal investigation revealed fake sponsor data, including fraudulent Social Security numbers. Despite continuing to accept new applications for some time, the Biden administration eventually barred parole recipients from extending their status. Following President Trump’s January 2025 executive orders, the DHS began dismantling the program, citing its misuse. Immigrant rights groups, including the Justice Action Center, have condemned the termination as harmful and have filed a lawsuit seeking to protect affected families and challenge the policy reversal in court.