500,000 Immigrants Face Deportation As US Ends Legal Status
The United States has revoked the legal status of over 500,000 immigrants, ordering them to leave the country within weeks.
President Donald Trump, pushing for the largest deportation campaign in US history, targeted immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who entered under a scheme launched by former President Joe Biden in 2022 and expanded in 2023.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that these individuals would lose their legal protection 30 days after the order is published in the Federal Register on Tuesday.
This means they must leave by April 24 unless they secure an alternative immigration status.
Welcome.US, an organisation supporting refugees, has urged affected individuals to seek legal advice immediately.
The affected immigrants were admitted under the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) programme, which allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month into the US for two years.
While Biden described the initiative as a “safe and humane” approach to easing border pressures, Homeland Security reiterated that the programme was only temporary.
“Parole is inherently temporary and does not grant permanent immigration status or US admission,” the department stated.
Last week, Trump invoked wartime legislation to deport over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.
The country has agreed to detain them, including some US citizens, at a discounted cost.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
