Immigrant with Humanitarian Parole Gives Up and Plans to Leave the U.S.: "I See No Future"

The cancellation of the humanitarian parole program for migrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti has triggered alarm among thousands who, having entered the United States legally, now face a 30-day deadline to leave the country. Failure to do so could result in immediate deportation unless they have other pending immigration processes. One such individual is José Fuente, a Venezuelan who arrived in the U.S. at the end of March 2024 under this immigration initiative.

José is now preparing to return to a country where he no longer has close family, as his three children reside outside Venezuela. "I see no future; the present is overwhelming, the future is now," he stated in an interview with Univision. "The harm done to those protected by the humanitarian parole is twofold," lamented José, who finds himself without any alternative immigration routes to adjust his status. "We entered the country legally; we don't deserve to be treated like criminals," he expressed, visibly distressed by the uncertainty surrounding his situation.

The revocation of the program has left him in a legal and emotional limbo, with time running against him and no safe haven to which he can return. Currently residing in Miami, José faces a stark reality: he must leave the United States by April 24, the deadline set in the Federal Register following the official termination of the parole.

His son, José Francisco Fuente, has taken on the challenging task of securing flight tickets for his father's return, complicated by the suspension of direct flights between the U.S. and Venezuela. "It's a race against time," explained the young man, worried that if his father doesn't leave, he might face the humiliation of being returned in handcuffs.

The family fears that if they fail to arrange the return on their own, José could be detained, shackled, and sent to detention centers or deported to third countries, as has happened with other cases relocated to El Salvador.

An Exit Without Options

José Fuente's case highlights the anxiety of thousands of migrants who placed their trust in the temporary stability promises of the humanitarian parole. The U.S. government has urged parole beneficiaries to self-deport. Those opting for land exit must use the CBP Home app, while air travelers only need a plane ticket. In both scenarios, the self-deportation costs fall on the migrant.

Forced Return to a Place No Longer Home

The termination of humanitarian parole impacts tens of thousands of recipients, a program initially designed to provide legal, temporary entry to migrants fleeing humanitarian crises and repression in their homelands. This new immigration shift not only mandates the departure of those without a current status but also revokes their work permits.

However, the Department of Homeland Security has clarified that individuals with pending asylum applications, TPS (Temporary Protected Status), status adjustments, family petitions, or other visas are not at immediate risk of deportation. Yet, those lacking any active migration pathways face the dilemma of leaving voluntarily or being forcibly detained and expelled.

For many, like José, returning to their country is not just a setback but a threat to their emotional and physical stability, especially in politically repressive environments lacking familial support. José Fuente's story personalizes a policy deemed by human rights organizations as harsh and insensitive, directly affecting migrants who sought a legal route to rebuild their lives.

Thousands of Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians who pinned their hopes on this humanitarian mechanism are now living a harrowing countdown. As April 24 approaches, tales of forced return and uprooting continue to emerge. Recently, the case of a 22-year-old Cuban parole beneficiary from Denver, Colorado, who self-deported to Santa Clara after realizing his work permit wouldn't be renewed due to the parole's revocation, made headlines.