The Cuban-American congresswoman María Elvira Salazar requested on Thursday that President Donald Trump grant temporary protection under the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program to citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who entered the United States legally under the humanitarian parole program.
In a letter sent on April 9, the Republican representative from Florida requested that the DED be applied as a temporary measure to protect parole beneficiaries while asylum processes are completed and background checks continue.
"Dear President Trump, I respectfully request that you grant Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to those arriving from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who were legally admitted to the United States under the parole program," begins the letter.
"The DED is at the complete discretion of the president. This would allow for proper verification to continue while the pending asylum cases for these individuals are resolved," he emphasized.
The DED program, which is solely dependent on the presidential decision, does not grant a status immigration, but prevents the deportation of designated individuals for a specified period and allows them to apply for work authorization.
Salazar argued that this measure would allow the authorities to continue evaluating case by case, protecting both national security and the American promise to shelter those fleeing persecution and violence.
"We must protect the promises made to the people of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, keeping both compassion and security in mind," the lawmaker stated.
"These countries are plagued by repressive communist dictatorships and gang violence," he mentioned.
The request comes days after the Trump administration officially announced the elimination of humanitarian parole, which was implemented in October 2022 for Venezuelans and in January 2023 for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans.
According to official figures, this decision will affect more than 530,000 people who were legally admitted with the support of sponsors who guaranteed their financial sustenance.
In her letter, Salazar points out that the current migration crisis in the Western Hemisphere, worsened by the opening of the Darién Gap and new air routes, was "exacerbated by the previous administration," which she accuses of opening the southern border and allowing more than 10 million people to enter, many of them illegally.
He also praised the current administration for taking measures to restore law and order in immigration policy and for working with countries to the south of the border to curb migratory flows.
Salazar emphasized that the cases of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela — governed by authoritarian regimes — and Haiti — engulfed in chaos and gang violence — are unique in the region and deserve special attention.
"DED for these countries will make the United States safer and will allow for proper background checks," he wrote.
"It will allow us to deport those who do not qualify and maintain the legacy of the United States as a beacon of hope," Salazar said.
Currently, countries such as Hong Kong, Lebanon, Liberia, and the Palestinian territories have received DED designations in the past.
If Salazar's request is implemented, it would provide temporary relief to thousands of individuals who entered legally and are now in a migratory limbo following the elimination of the parole by the Trump Administration.
The letter from Salazar was sent after the congresswoman was featured on a billboard labeling "traitors" the Cuban-Americans connected to the Trump Administration for not supporting the immigrant community in the face of the strict immigration policies implemented since January.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Application for Temporary Protection for Beneficiaries of Humanitarian Parole
What is Deferred Forced Departure (DED) and how would it benefit migrants?
The Deferred Forced Departure (DED) is a discretionary measure by the U.S. president that prevents the deportation of certain individuals for a specified period and allows them to apply for work authorization. In the case of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, granting DED could provide them with temporary protection while their asylum cases are resolved and background checks are conducted, thus avoiding immediate deportation following the revocation of humanitarian parole.
Why is the DED being requested for beneficiaries of humanitarian parole?
The DED petition aims to protect migrants who entered legally under humanitarian parole from being deported while their asylum process is completed and their history is verified. The request is made in response to the elimination of humanitarian parole by the Trump administration, which has left over 530,000 people in a migratory limbo.
What impact does the revocation of humanitarian parole have on migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela?
The revocation of humanitarian parole affects more than 530,000 migrants, leaving them at risk of deportation if they do not have another legal basis to remain in the U.S. This includes the suspension of their work permits and the invalidation of their expectations of legal permanence, despite having entered the country legally under this program.
How has Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar responded to the situation of humanitarian parole beneficiaries?
Maria Elvira Salazar has urged President Trump to grant DED to affected migrants, emphasizing both the need to protect national security and to fulfill promises made to those fleeing persecution and violence. She has also put forward proposals such as the Dignity Act, which aims to provide a path to legalization for immigrants without criminal records.
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