Trump Moves to Revoke Legal Status of Over 500,000 Migrants

The US government has warned over half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to leave before 24 April.

The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate the temporary legal status of 530,000 migrants who entered the United States under a Biden-era sponsorship programme known as CHNV.

The affected individuals have been instructed to depart the country before 24 April, when their permits and deportation shield will be revoked, according to a federal government notice.

The CHNV programme, introduced in 2022 by President Joe Biden, provided a legal migration pathway for Venezuelans before being expanded to include Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans. The initiative allowed migrants to enter the US legally with American sponsors and remain for two years under parole status.

The Biden administration had argued that CHNV would help curb illegal border crossings and facilitate better security vetting.

However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), now under Trump’s leadership, has criticised the programme, calling it a failure that undercut American workers and fuelled crime. The 35-page notice stated that some migrants may still be allowed to remain on a case-by-case basis.

Trump is also reviewing the status of 240,000 Ukrainians who fled to the US during the Russia-Ukraine war and has already announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians, effective August 2025. The decision on Venezuelan TPS is facing a legal challenge.

Since returning to office in January, Trump’s immigration policies have faced legal battles, reflecting the ongoing divide over US migration strategy.