DHS Ends Parole Programs for Certain Inadmissible Noncitizens
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally announced the termination of the categorical parole programs for inadmissible noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), with the final termination date set for April 24, 2025.
The notice from DHS is comprehensive and outlines the immediate and severe consequences for those affected. It includes the cancellation of all pending applications for parole under the CHNV program, effectively closing the pathway for new applicants. More critically, the policy calls for the automatic revocation of employment authorization for existing parolees on the termination date. This action will immediately render hundreds of thousands of individuals without legal authorization to work, creating a crisis for both the individuals and the employers who rely on their labor. The notice also raises the specter of expedited removal for individuals who do not have a separate lawful status to remain in the country after the April 24 deadline.
This decision is part of a broader administrative strategy to end what the current administration refers to as “disastrous” and “unnecessary” categorical parole programs.
Legal organizations and advocacy groups have filed lawsuits challenging the policy, and at least one federal judge has issued a stay on the terminations, though the Supreme Court later allowed the government to proceed with the policy while the appeal is pending. The sudden change in status has forced many parolees to scramble to file new applications for asylum or other forms of relief, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), to avoid deportation and to retain their legal ability to remain and work in the country. The policy prioritizes the removal of those who have not filed valid applications for other forms of relief, creating a sense of urgency and fear among the affected communities.
