U.S. to Expel Over Half a Million Migrants Previously Granted Temporary Entry.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Thursday that hundreds of thousands of immigrants—primarily from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—who were granted temporary permission to enter the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program will now be ordered to leave the country immediately.
More than 531,000 people were allowed to remain in the U.S. for up to two years under the program, launched by President Joe Biden and designed to reduce illegal border crossings. The program required migrants to have U.S.-based sponsors and undergo vetting. According to the DHS, it led to a 98% drop in unauthorized entries from the four countries by the end of November 2024.
However, President Trump canceled the program through an executive order after taking office in January. In May, the Supreme Court upheld his decision to suspend the policy while legal challenges proceed in lower courts.
The DHS said affected individuals would receive email notices to depart. It remains unclear how many people will ultimately be impacted, as some may have obtained legal status through other visa pathways.
Trump administration officials have harshly criticized the Biden-era initiative. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called it “disastrous,” claiming it encouraged fraud, crime, and harmed American workers.
The parole program had become a flashpoint in last year's presidential race. Trump and his allies spotlighted cities like Springfield, Ohio—which experienced a surge in Haitian migration—making inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims, such as accusations of immigrants eating pets.
Trump’s running mate, Vice President JD Vance, defended the rhetoric as “creating a story” to highlight immigration concerns and what he called “the suffering of the American people.”
To encourage voluntary departures, the DHS is offering migrants without legal status travel assistance and a \$1,000 “exit bonus.”
To encourage voluntary departures, the DHS is offering migrants without legal status travel assistance and a \$1,000 “exit bonus.”
blogpay
Total Comments: 0