By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | April 6, 2025

More than 500,000 Latin American immigrants in the United States are facing a fast-approaching deadline that could change their lives forever. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a notice on March 25 announcing that protections for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela will end on April 24.

The order affects those who entered the U.S. legally under the CHNV parole program. This Biden-era initiative allowed migrants from crisis-hit countries to come to the U.S. with government approval—the program aimed to reduce unlawful border crossings by offering an organized and legal path to entry.

Now, those migrants must choose between leaving voluntarily or risking arrest and forced removal. Officials have urged migrants to self-register using a federal smartphone app and make arrangements to depart the country. If they fail to do so, DHS says they could be located, detained, and deported

“This is a warning,” CBS News immigration reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez said. “The government is telling people to register their plans to leave or face removal.”

The move has sparked outrage across immigrant communities, especially in South Florida, where thousands of CHNV recipients have built new lives. These individuals arrived legally, were vetted, and were given temporary work permits. Many now have jobs, children in school, and deep ties to their communities.

Advocates say the sudden change is cruel, especially for families who fled violence, economic collapse, and political unrest. Returning home could mean facing persecution or extreme poverty. For many, leaving the U.S. isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a risk to their lives.

Local organizations have stepped up to help. In Miami, Catholic Legal Services has become a center for assistance, offering legal support, counseling, and help navigating the complex rules.

Community leaders are calling on the federal government to reconsider. They argue that the policy change is unfair and harmful to the economy. Immigrants from these countries play a vital role in many industries, including healthcare, construction, and hospitality.

Many saw the CHNV program, launched under President Biden, as a smart response to the rising number of migrants at the southern border. Offering legal pathways for people fleeing crisis zones reduced illegal crossings and allowed for background checks and U.S.-based sponsors.

532,000 people entered the U.S. through CHNV before the program was paused following President Trump’s return to office.

In February, CBS News reported that the Trump administration planned to cancel their legal status. That plan is now in effect, with work permits and protections set to expire by April 24.

Migrants who fail to apply for asylum, a green card, or another immigration status may be among the first targeted for deportation. DHS has said it will prioritize enforcement against those who have not tried to regularize their stay.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin defended the decision, saying CHNV participants were “loosely vetted” and claiming the program hurt American workers.

“The termination of the CHNV parole programs is a return to common-sense policies,” McLaughlin said. “It’s about public safety and putting America First.”

But immigrant advocates strongly disagree.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) condemned the policy as reckless and harmful. AILA President Kelli Stump said the CHNV program was a “breakthrough moment” in immigration policy.

“It created an orderly way to help people in desperate situations,” Stump said. “They had sponsors, were authorized to work, and were contributing to the economy. Now, the rug is being pulled out from under them in a political stunt to increase deportation numbers.”

AILA’s Executive Director Benjamin Johnson said ending the program will backfire.

“This is not just inhumane — it’s bad policy,” Johnson said. “It will increase the number of undocumented immigrants and remove people who are filling critical jobs. At a time when many industries are struggling to find workers, this decision hurts everyone.”

The Trump administration has also taken steps to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Venezuelans and has paused all pending immigration benefit applications for CHNV recipients. Officials cite concerns about fraud and incomplete vetting, although supporters of the program say those claims are exaggerated and politically motivated.

Critics argue that ending the CHNV program won’t stop people from fleeing their home countries. Instead, it will push more migrants into dangerous, irregular crossings at the border. The Biden administration had viewed CHNV as a safer, more humane solution.

With the April 24 deadline fast approaching, families across the U.S. face impossible decisions. Should they leave the country they’ve come to call home — a country where many of their children were born, where they have jobs and lives — or stay and risk detention?

For many, the answer is unclear.

The coming weeks will bring fear, confusion, and hard choices for thousands of families. For them, April 24 is not just a date on the calendar. It is a deadline that could reshape their lives forever.

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