The United States announced on Friday that it would be revoking the legal status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, giving them only a few weeks to exit the country.
President Donald Trump has committed to initiating the largest deportation effort in US history and restricting immigration, particularly from Latin American countries.
This directive impacts approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who entered the United States through a program started in October 2022 and expanded in January under Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden.
These individuals will forfeit their legal protection 30 days after the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement is published in the Federal Register, which is set to occur on Tuesday.
Consequently, immigrants involved in the program “must leave the United States” by April 24 unless they obtain another immigration status that allows them to remain, according to the order.
Welcome.US, an organisation that aids individuals seeking refuge in the United States, has encouraged those impacted by this decision to “immediately” consult with an immigration attorney.
The Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program, which was launched in January 2023, permitted the entry of up to 30,000 migrants each month from these four nations over two years, all of which have concerning human rights situations.
Biden described the initiative as a “safe and humane” method to alleviate the strain on the busy US-Mexico border. However, the Department of Homeland Security clarified on Friday that the program was “temporary.”
Last week, Trump used wartime legislation to transfer over 200 suspected members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador, which has agreed to imprison migrants and even US citizens at a reduced rate.
