ILAP Decries Trump Administration’s Cruel Revocation of Immigration Status for Current Humanitarian Parolees from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Venezuela

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2025

CONTACT: press@ilapmaine.org

The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) decries the Trump administration’s announcement that it is terminating the immigration status and corresponding work permits of people currently in the United States under the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) parole program. This cruel and chaotic move strips lawful immigration status from hundreds of thousands of people, including people here in Maine. Unless halted by the courts, current parolees will lose their status as of April 24, 2025, unless their parole status ended earlier.  

The CHNV program offered people fleeing life-threatening conditions in Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela a pathway to come to the United States on a temporary basis. To be eligible, people needed to have a sponsor in the U.S. who agreed to provide them with financial support should they need it, but the program gave people access to work permits so they could support themselves and their families. Once here, people could pursue other immigration options, if applicable.  

Sue Roche, ILAP’s Executive Director said: “In addition to critical humanitarian protection, the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela parole program reunited families, built up our workforce here in Maine and beyond, and gave people in the U.S. the opportunity to sponsor displaced people and concretely live their religious or other values.  

This extraordinarily cruel decision by the Trump administration once again makes clear that their agenda has nothing to do with going after people who pose any kind threat to society. They are broadly targeting immigrant communities and families and through actions like this, actively trying to expand the number of people they can deport. The consequences affect all of us when people are ripped away from their families, communities, and workplaces.” 

Earlier this year, the Trump administration stopped processing pending applications and accepting new applications for this parole program, as well as parole programs for Ukrainians and Afghans. The Justice Action Center, Human Rights First, and Haitian Bridge Alliance are suing on behalf of parolees from all countries as well as U.S.-based sponsors. Updates on litigation regarding this new announcement terminating parole for current CHNV parolees is forthcoming.  

ILAP recommends that impacted people seek a screening with a qualified immigration attorney to determine their options at this time. Impacted people in Maine can request an appointment with ILAP here.  

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