Parole status terminated for CHNV newcomers
On May 30, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s emergency request to terminate humanitarian parole status for people who arrived in the U.S. through the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) sponsorship program. The ruling means humanitarian parole status for people sponsored through the CHNV program is terminated and the government can begin deportation proceedings, unless they have secured protection from deportation through another legal status, such as a pending asylum application.
Humanitarian parole was granted to at least 531,000 people who were sponsored from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Impacted individuals may be prioritized for removal from the U.S., as described in the DHS memorandum on expedited removal issued on January 23, 2025.
What does it mean for you?
- All individuals with a primary status of humanitarian parole should seek advice from an immigration attorney immediately to determine if viable alternative statuses, such as asylum, remain an option for them. Find an immigration attorney through the American Immigration Lawyers Association search tool.
- If you or someone you know is impacted, consult our humanitarian parole termination resources hub, which includes resources to understand newcomers’ rights and possible next steps.
- Consult the Welcome.US guide to alternative legal status options for humanitarian parolees for information on pursuing alternative legal status.
- Learn more on our policy updates page for background on the lawsuit.
- This order of termination is specific to individuals who were sponsored through the CHNV sponsorship program. It does not apply to individuals who arrived in the U.S. through Uniting for Ukraine (U4U); however, recent reports suggest the government may also terminate humanitarian parole status for this population. Individuals who arrived through U4U and do not have another status or a pending application for another status, such as TPS or asylum, should seek professional legal counsel and apply for alternative legal status, if eligible.
FAQ
How will CHNV newcomers know if their parole status has been terminated?
On March 25, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the decision to terminate the humanitarian parole status for people sponsored through the CHNV program. This public notice serves as notice of the termination of parole status for those who arrived through CHNV and if their primary status is humanitarian parole. DHS also provided individual notices to each parolee through their USCIS account.
Termination of parole was supposed to take effect on April 24, 2025. However, a federal judge temporarily halted termination while reviewing the legality of DHS’s termination decision. On May 30, the Supreme Court lifted the temporary halt, which means that the Trump Administration's decision to end humanitarian parole for people sponsored through the CHNV program can move forward and the government can begin deportation proceedings. Click here to learn more about humanitarian parole sponsorship.
How will CHNV newcomers know if they can stay in the U.S.?
All individuals who arrived in the U.S. through CHNV should seek advice from an immigration attorney immediately to determine if they already have alternative legal status, or, if not, what viable options remain for them.
Check your USCIS online account regularly for updates.
Find an immigration attorney through the American Immigration Lawyers Association search tool.
How does the termination of parole status for CHNV beneficiaries affect their employment authorization?
The May 30 Supreme Court ruling allowed the government to end CHNV humanitarian parole immediately. This means employment authorization based on CHNV parole has ended.
If the individual has work authorization based on a different legal status (such as asylum or TPS), it will not be affected.
How can you help?
- Consult the Welcome.US guide to alternative legal status options for humanitarian parolees for information on pursuing alternative legal status.
- Consider contacting your federal representatives to voice your support for individuals who are currently residing in the U.S. with legal status under humanitarian parole.
- Review this American Immigration Lawyers Association resource to understand newcomers’ rights and possible next steps.
- Subscribe for important policy updates.
