A Cuban who entered the U.S. in 2024 through the CBP One application has been notified by their employer that they will be terminated as of April 25 because their work permit is expiring.
The employer sent him a letter explaining that due to the revocation of the "parole program," if he has not applied for or received another form of status by the 24th, the law prohibits them from allowing him to continue working and they will be required to terminate his employment.
“We are all in category C11, but CBP One has nothing to do with humanitarian parole,” defended the affected individual, Reinie Ruiz, in statements to journalist Daniel Benítez for Univision.
Like thousands of other migrants, Ruiz entered through the southern border of the United States in 2024 after receiving an appointment through CBP ONE to apply for asylum.
He was released on parole under which he applied for a work permit in category C11, the same as those who entered through humanitarian parole at an airport.
However, the two types of parole are not the same, and lawyers warn that the revoked parole is the humanitarian one, which was granted to citizens of Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Venezuela.
"Right now, the only thing being canceled are the paroles from the humanitarian parole program. The people who entered through CBP One have their paroles and I-94s still active, and their work permits remain fully valid under the I-94 they were given for two years," clarified lawyer Mayron Gallardo to the mentioned outlet.
In response to the question of how individuals who entered through CBP One and possess their I-94 can demonstrate that their permit is still valid, the attorney answered:
“The way to prove it is to first check your I-94 in the online system, and if your I-94 is active as long as your work permit is active, everything is alright. The I-94 has not been revoked.”
"And second, if you have not received any official notification from USCIS revoking your work permit, your work permit remains active without any issues," Gallardo added.
The lawyer Wilfredo Allen, for his part, advised migrants who may be experiencing a similar situation to tell their employers to check "the I-9".
The I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form is a document from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Its purpose is to verify the identity and employment authorization of all individuals hired to work in the United States.
Both lawyers emphasized that it must be clear to employers that the 'parole' under which a migrant entered through the CBP One application is unrelated to humanitarian parole or the revocation announcement made by the U.S. government on March 25.
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