In light of the recent announcement regarding the cancellation of humanitarian parole, thousands of Cuban beneficiaries are now anxious about their future. This immigration benefit will be rescinded 30 days after the official announcement, which is expected this coming Tuesday. In an interview with Univision, attorney José Guerrero provided insights into the implications of this measure and highlighted the groups most vulnerable to expedited deportation once the rule takes effect.
Who is Impacted by This Decision?
According to Guerrero, individuals currently holding a valid parole will be affected. He explained that all humanitarian paroles issued will be nullified 30 days following the official publication of the rule.
"If you've been in the country for over two years and have applied for a migration benefit or already have a defined immigration status, you won't face any issues and can remain in the U.S.," Guerrero stated. He further mentioned, "Those who haven't applied by the publication date face the highest risk of expedited deportation, bypassing the immigration court system entirely."
Guerrero clarified that those who applied for residency after a year and a day but haven't received documentation should not be impacted initially. "They shouldn't be affected based on this publication," he noted, adding that individuals who have made a "status adjustment" before the rule's publication are exempt. This includes the Cuban Adjustment Act, TPS, T visa, and U visa.
"Applicants before this publication should be protected as they have a legal basis to stay in the U.S.," Guerrero affirmed. However, the situation is more precarious for those with humanitarian parole who haven't applied for residency due to being in the country for less than a year and a day, and who haven't filed for asylum.
Individuals who did not file for asylum before the announcement on Friday will no longer have that option. "Filing now would not be valid; the publication specifies it must be before the news was released," the attorney clarified. "Those who haven't reached a year and a day but didn't apply for asylum might be affected," he warned. "People who have been here for some time should have applied for residency or asylum. Those who applied are protected, but those who haven't done anything face expedited deportation."
When asked about the fate of those who choose not to leave the U.S., Guerrero responded, "The government prioritizes their swift removal because individuals with two years in the country must undergo a standard deportation process, and we know the courts are overwhelmed. Each person will be notified, detained, and deported quickly," he concluded.
Journalist Wilfredo Cancio estimates around 26,000 Cubans could find themselves legally unprotected. These individuals entered the U.S. after March 2024 and haven't been in the country long enough to qualify under the Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA). This figure excludes those who preemptively applied for Cuban asylum before Friday’s announcement.
Humanitarian Parole Revocation
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of humanitarian parole programs for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, along with their immediate relatives, collectively known as CHNV programs. This decision aligns with Executive Order 14165 issued by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, aimed at securing the border and ending categorical parole programs.
The DHS argued that these programs failed to curb irregular migration or significantly enhance border security, leading to increased strain on local communities, public resources, and the already overburdened immigration judicial system.
More than 532,000 individuals entered the United States through these programs between 2022 and 2025. Despite being legally admitted under parole, the DHS contends that these large-scale admissions contradicted the original intent of the law, which mandates case-by-case permissions.
Current paroles will be invalidated 30 days post-official notice, unless the Secretary of Homeland Security decides otherwise for specific cases. Those without another legal basis for staying in the U.S. will need to leave or face deportation proceedings.
Understanding the Impact of Humanitarian Parole Revocation
Who will be most affected by the parole revocation?
Individuals with an active humanitarian parole who have not applied for any other immigration status by the publication date are at the highest risk of expedited deportation.
What should those with humanitarian parole do to avoid deportation?
Those eligible should apply for residency or asylum before the publication date to ensure they have a legal basis to remain in the U.S.
How does this decision relate to the Cuban Adjustment Act?
The decision impacts those who have not met the one-year threshold required to apply under the Cuban Adjustment Act, leaving them without a legal pathway to stay.