On Saturday, Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar called for a "chance" for humanitarian parole beneficiaries to access "the protections they were promised," while blaming the Biden Administration for the "legal limbo" they currently face. "Trump is fixing the immigration mess left by Biden. There's no doubt: the legal limbo faced by Cubans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans today is a direct result of the empty promises of the Biden administration," Salazar stated in a message on X, first in English and then in Spanish.
Despite her criticism, Salazar showed empathy for the parole beneficiaries, urging for leniency. "These individuals fled failed communist regimes hoping to find freedom and opportunity in the United States, only to be betrayed by inconsistent and poorly managed policies," she remarked. "The Trump administration should acknowledge this reality and not punish them for Biden's mistakes. Let's give them the chance to access the protections they were promised," she concluded.
Voices from the Community
Salazar is the first of the three Cuban-American congress members—and the only one as of this report—to speak out about the recent revocation of migration benefits for Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians. In the comments section of her post, many internet users expressed skepticism about the possibility of Donald Trump endorsing a solution similar to María Elvira’s proposal for parole beneficiaries.
Some commentators remarked, "Trump doesn't agree with that idea and it won't happen," while others claimed that "Trump is anti-Latino" and that his party shows no compassion for migrants who have arrived in the U.S. in recent years. One user questioned, "Isn't there anything the United States can do to eradicate the root cause of immigration? That is, the terrible governments in Latin America," referring to the spread of authoritarian regimes and crises in the region.
Mixed Reactions and Concerns
Voices supporting strict measures were also present. Some users endorsed mass deportations, insisting that illegal immigrants "should be sent back," regardless of the circumstances that forced them to flee their countries. In the past hours, the Republican congresswoman has been pressured in various forums to publicly express her stance on the announcement made by the Trump Administration on Friday.
Impact of Humanitarian Parole Revocation
Thousands of Cuban humanitarian parole beneficiaries have been left worried following the Friday announcement of the revocation of this migration benefit within 30 days. In an interview with Univision, attorney José Guerrero provided insights into the extent of the measure and particularly who faces the greatest risk of expedited deportation once the measure takes effect.
"If you have been in the country for more than two years and have already applied for a migration benefit or have a defined migratory status, you will not have any problems and can remain in the U.S.," Guerrero explained. "However, those who haven't applied by the publication date are at greater risk of expedited deportation, without even going through an immigration court," he added.
According to Guerrero, individuals who have already applied for residency after a year and a day but do not yet have any documentation should not be affected "because they have a legal basis to stay in the U.S." However, the situation becomes more complicated for humanitarian parole beneficiaries who have not applied for residency due to being in the country for less than a year and a day and have not filed an asylum request. Those individuals, if they did not file an asylum request before Friday's announcement, can no longer do so.
The number of Cubans who would be legally unprotected in the U.S. following the recent announcement of the humanitarian parole revocation is estimated at around 26,000. This figure, according to journalist Wilfredo Cancio for Café Fuerte, includes island citizens who entered U.S. territory after March 2024. These Cubans do not yet meet the requirement of a year and a day of U.S. residency necessary to qualify under the Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA).
Frequently Asked Questions about Humanitarian Parole Revocation
Who is most affected by the humanitarian parole revocation?
Individuals who have not applied for a migration benefit by the announcement date are most at risk of expedited deportation. Those who have been in the U.S. for less than a year and a day and have not filed for asylum are particularly vulnerable.
What is the estimated number of Cubans affected by the policy change?
Approximately 26,000 Cubans are estimated to be affected by the recent revocation of humanitarian parole, many of whom entered the U.S. after March 2024.
What legal protections exist for those who have already applied for residency?
Individuals who have applied for residency after a year and a day in the U.S. and have a legal basis for staying are not expected to be affected by the revocation, according to attorney José Guerrero.