500,000 immigrants on Humanitarian parole ordered to leave US
In a statement released on Thursday, the DHS revealed that these immigrants, who the Biden administration had granted temporary protection under humanitarian parole, would be receiving notices instructing them to depart.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that hundreds of thousands of immigrants, primarily from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, who were granted temporary relief from deportation, will now be instructed to leave the country immediately.
In a statement released on Thursday, the DHS revealed that these immigrants, who the Biden administration had granted temporary protection under humanitarian parole, would be receiving notices instructing them to depart. The program, which allowed more than half a million individuals to remain in the U.S. for two years, was originally expanded under President Joe Biden's orders in response to the difficult living conditions in their home countries.
The decision has already faced criticism, with some opponents of the previous administration's immigration policies suggesting that it could lead to a resurgence in mass deportations. Throughout his presidency, Biden used the humanitarian parole system to provide protection to individuals from these four countries, dating back to Cold War-era policies. The initiative aimed to address the volatile political and economic situations in these nations.
By the end of November 2024, a total of 531,670 individuals were approved to remain under this program, which was credited with reducing illegal border crossings from these countries by 98%. However, the exact number of individuals who will be affected by this new directive is uncertain, as some may have already obtained legal status through alternative visa channels.
While the Biden administration emphasized that the immigrants were thoroughly screened and vetted, the Trump administration had raised concerns about the program’s potential for fraud and its impact on American workers. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin labeled the initiative as "disastrous," suggesting that it opened the door to fraudulent claims and undermined the labor market.
The program became a contentious topic during the 2024 presidential campaign, especially after Trump and his allies pointed to cities like Springfield, Ohio, where a surge in Haitian immigration had been noted. Trump and his supporters made controversial statements regarding Haitian immigrants, which were later debunked, including claims about immigrants eating pets.
Trump, once in office, issued an executive order reversing Biden's decision to expand humanitarian parole. In May, the Supreme Court upheld his suspension of the program, while the legal battle continues in lower courts.
To incentivize voluntary departure, DHS has offered a $1,000 "exit bonus" to those who leave the U.S. without legal status. Additionally, the agency has pledged to provide travel assistance to the immigrants affected by the new ruling.
