The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that it would strip over half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela of their temporary legal status, BBC reports.
Migrants without a legal basis to remain in the U.S. have been reminded that they must leave by April 24, as their work permits and protection from deportation will no longer be valid after that date.
In 2022, President Joe Biden’s administration launched the CHNV program, which allowed migrants with American sponsors and their close relatives to come to the U.S. and stay for up to two years with temporary immigration status. Officials claimed that the initiative would help reduce illegal crossings at the southern border.
A total of 530,000 migrants arrived in the U.S. under this program. However, it remains unclear how many have since obtained a legal status that would allow them to stay.
Upon taking office, Donald Trump canceled the program.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security accused the previous administration of enabling migrants to compete for jobs, limiting opportunities for American workers.
According to a notice published in the U.S. Federal Register, some migrants who entered through the CHNV program may be allowed to stay in the country under specific individual circumstances.
