In a sweeping reversal of a controversial immigration policy, the Trump administration is revoking the legal status of over 500,000 immigrants flown into the United States under a Biden-era program. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that parole programs for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela under the CHNV initiative—first introduced in 2022 and 2023—will officially be terminated next month.
DHS is urging affected migrants to self-deport or face imminent arrest and removal, marking the latest effort in the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
White House: “They’re Welcome to Self-Deport”
The White House made its stance clear through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who took to social media to address the change.
“These are the 530,000 illegal immigrants that Joe Biden flew to the United States on the taxpayers' dime. They’re welcome to self-deport using the newly repurposed CBP Home App!”
The CBP Home App, a revised version of Biden’s CBP One App, is now being used as a tool for self-deportation, aligning with Trump’s broader strategy of reducing illegal migration and reinforcing border security.
CHNV: A Program Rife with Fraud and Poor Vetting
The CHNV program was initially created to provide temporary protection and work permits for migrants from four crisis-stricken nations. However, Republican lawmakers and federal watchdogs have long raised concerns over fraud, abuse, and lax vetting.
A GOP-led House Judiciary Committee report in 2023 highlighted that over 3 million CHNV applications were filed, including 80,000 from applicants outside of the program’s designated countries. Additionally, an internal DHS analysis found significant evidence of fraud, including:
Thousands of applications with identical Social Security numbers, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Over 460 fake zip codes used in 2,800 applications.
Multiple applications filed from the same IP addresses, raising concerns of human trafficking.
Investigations also found that some applicants had criminal records or were dependent on welfare, and the Biden administration even allowed non-citizens to sponsor CHNV applicants, facilitating chain migration.
In response to the mounting evidence of abuse, DHS suspended new CHNV applications in 2023, but by that time, 532,000 migrants had already entered the U.S. under the program.
Mass Deportation and Crackdown on Criminal Migrants
The Trump administration’s deportation strategy, led by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan, prioritizes violent criminals and gang members. This includes affiliates of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang that the Trump administration recently designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
The administration has already deployed additional law enforcement resources, leading to a historic drop in illegal border crossings. The current approach combines strict executive orders, enhanced ICE operations, and expanded detention capacity.
Small-Town Impact and Political Fallout
The influx of Haitian migrants under CHNV became a flashpoint during the 2024 presidential election, with concerns about the strain on small-town resources in places like Springfield, Ohio, and Charleroi, Pennsylvania. The issue was further amplified by unfounded rumors—echoed by Trump and Vice President JD Vance—that Haitian migrants were consuming cats and dogs in Springfield.
With the Biden-era parole system being dismantled, and mass deportations underway, Trump is delivering on his campaign promise to restore order at the border. The revocation of CHNV is expected to be the first step in a broader immigration overhaul, signaling a new era of strict enforcement under the current administration.
