Amelia Blake

Introduction

In a significant policy shift, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the termination of the humanitarian parole programs for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), effective March 25, 2025. These programs, established in 2022 and 2023, had provided a legal pathway for certain nationals from these countries and their immediate family members to enter and temporarily reside in the United States.

What's Changing

The temporary parole period for individuals admitted under these programs will end on April 24, 2025, for those whose parole has not already expired. This decision impacts an estimated 530,000 individuals who had been granted temporary protection under these programs.

DHS has provided several justifications for ending these programs:

• They are no longer necessary to achieve border security goals
• They failed to sufficiently mitigate the domestic effects of illegal immigration
• They are inconsistent with the current administration's foreign policy objectives

What Affected Individuals Need to Know

Individuals who were paroled into the US under the CHNV programs and do not have another lawful basis to remain in the country must depart before April 24, 2025. Those who fail to comply may face enforcement actions, including removal proceedings.

This creates a precarious situation for hundreds of thousands of people who have established ties, found employment, and begun to build lives in the US under the temporary protection of these parole programs.

New "Self-Deportation" Option

In conjunction with this policy change, DHS has launched the CBP Home app with a new "Intent to Depart" feature. This tool allows individuals whose parole has been revoked to notify the US government of their intention to voluntarily leave the country.

The app includes a "verify departure" function that enables users to document their exit from the United States by providing:

• Biographic data from passports or other travel documents
• Facial images
• Geolocation data (the user must be at least three miles outside the US)

According to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, this initiative aims to "restore integrity to our immigration system" and offers affected individuals the option to "leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future."

Broader Implications

The termination of the CHNV parole programs represents a significant shift away from humanitarian parole as a migration management tool. It aligns with the current administration's emphasis on enhanced enforcement and more restrictive immigration policies.

Advocacy groups have expressed concern about the humanitarian impact of ending these programs, particularly given the ongoing political instability and humanitarian challenges in the countries of origin.

What's Next

As the April 24 deadline approaches, affected individuals should:

• Consult with immigration attorneys to explore other possible pathways to remain legally in the US
• Understand the potential consequences of removal versus voluntary departure
• If planning to depart, gather documentation of lawful presence and timely departure

For those working with affected communities, it's critical to provide accurate information about legal options and the potential risks of non-compliance with the new policy.

The termination of these programs may also lead to an increase in asylum applications, potentially further straining an already burdened immigration system.