During his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order that effectively terminates the humanitarian parole program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The program, launched by the Biden administration in January 2023, allowed migrants fleeing severe conditions to enter the U.S. legally.
With the new order, no additional applications will be accepted, and individuals currently in the U.S. under the program lose their legal status and work permits, and face deportation when their two-year parole expires.
The decision has particularly impacted Cuban and Haitian communities. Many have relied on U.S. immigration policies for refuge due to political persecution and violence in their home countries. Despite these hardships, some argue the order is necessary to curb illegal immigration, while others worry it will affect those seeking safety.
“There is a generalized feeling to allow entrance to people who are escaping from regimes and dictatorships,” said Frank Calzon, former executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba in Washington, D.C. “There have been people who have abused this process to enter the US. Many people claim that their lives are in danger, but then they go back within 4 or 6 months. It doesn’t make sense.”
The executive order also shut down the CBP One app, which had streamlined the process for travel authorizations. The American Civil Liberties Union and several other organizations have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, claiming the order violates constitutional and legal principles. The administration has vowed to defend the decision in court.
