The Department of Homeland Security of the United States (DHS) issued a strong message this Saturday to Cuban, Nicaraguan, Haitian, and Venezuelan citizens who are beneficiaries of the humanitarian parole program, whose status has been revoked and have not been able to regularize their immigration status.
In a post on the X account of the DHS, Kristi Noem, the secretary of the government agency, wrote: "President Trump and I have a clear message for illegal foreign criminals: 'Leave now'".
In the post, the Trump administration insists on generalizing and labeling immigrants who arrived under Joe Biden's program, which allowed around 532,000 people to enter the U.S. and obtain a work permit, as "criminals."
"The world is hearing our message: illegal foreign criminals are not welcome in the United States,” it reads on the social network, where undocumented migrants are warned that if they do not leave the U.S. immediately, they could face serious consequences.
The DHS threatened to pursue and arrest beneficiaries of the humanitarian parole who do not leave U.S. territory and imprison them. "They could end up in an El Salvadorian prison", it warned, referring to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the mega-prison in El Salvador that Kristi Noem visited this week, a place where hundreds of Venezuelan migrants deported by the Trump administration have been detained.
This Friday, the DHS began sending an electronic notification to migrants who arrived in the country under the humanitarian parole, informing them that they must leave the United States or they will be expelled.
The text sent to Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan beneficiaries of the program warns them that they must leave the country voluntarily or they will face detention and deportation.
"You must leave the United States beforehand, but no later than the expiration date of your probation. Failing to depart in a timely manner may have adverse immigration consequences," reads the document that arrives a few days after the program through which more than 532,000 individuals entered the United States has concluded.
The measure emphasizes that if migrants have not obtained a legal basis to remain in the country, and do not leave the United States before the end date of the parole, they will begin to accumulate "illegal presence in the United States", unless they are "otherwise protected against such accumulation."
"The accumulation of more than 180 days of unlawful presence followed by departure from the United States may result in being inadmissible if one attempts to re-enter within a specified period after leaving," the text stated.
Hundreds of Cubans have expressed their frustration, fear, and rejection of the measure, which they see as a low blow to those who entered U.S. territory legally, hoping to rebuild their lives.
One of the beneficiaries of the parole notified this Saturday was the independent journalist and former political prisoner from Cuba Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca, who faces an imminent risk of deportation.
Valle Roca, who spent nearly three years in prison, left the country in June 2024, after his wife, Eralidis Frómeta, arranged at the U.S. embassy in Havana the possibility of obtaining a humanitarian parole.
The opponent, who was constantly harassed by the Cuban regime, may be impacted by the cancellation of the parole programs for foreigners from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
In a message posted on his Facebook profile, he expressed his distress over the possibility of being deported and reaffirmed his stance against the Cuban regime.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Revocation of Humanitarian Parole in the U.S.
What is humanitarian parole and why has it been revoked?
The humanitarian parole was a program implemented by the Joe Biden administration that allowed the temporary entry of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela for humanitarian or public benefit reasons. President Donald Trump has revoked this program, claiming that it did not succeed in reducing irregular migration or improving border security.
What should beneficiaries of humanitarian parole do after its revocation?
Humanitarian parole beneficiaries must leave the United States before their permit expires. If they do not, they could face detention and deportation, as they will begin to accumulate unlawful presence. Furthermore, their employment authorization tied to this program has been revoked.
What consequences do migrants face if they do not leave the U.S. after the revocation of parole?
Those who do not leave the United States before the expiration date of their parole may face accelerated deportation proceedings. Furthermore, accumulating more than 180 days of unlawful presence may result in inadmissibility if they apply for entry in the future.
How does the revocation of humanitarian parole affect Cubans in the U.S.?
The revocation of humanitarian parole leaves many Cubans in a migratory limbo, especially those who have not yet met the one-year physical presence requirement necessary to benefit from the Cuban Adjustment Act. This may jeopardize their permanence in the country if they have not initiated other legal proceedings.
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