On March 25, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is terminating the categorical parole programs established for citizens and nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) and their immediate family members. CHNV parole grants will terminate on April 24, 2025, for those whose parole has not already expired, unless the Secretary of Homeland Security makes an individual determination to the contrary.
Detailed information on the impact of this termination is provided below.
What is the CHNV parole program?
In October 2022, DHS established a parole program for citizens and nationals of Cuba, which was expanded in 2023 to include citizens and nationals of Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The parole processes established for citizens and nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) allowed individuals with U.S.-based supporters to seek parole into the United States on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. The parolees were allowed to remain in the United States temporarily and permitted to apply for employment authorization to allow them to work in the United States.
When does the CHNV Program end?
DHS terminated the CHNV parole programs as of March 25, 2025. DHS stated that it intends to issue a notice of non-confirmation for all pending applications. DHS also indicated it will rescind the confirmation of all applications that were previously confirmed and issue updated notices of non-confirmation for any potential beneficiaries who have not yet traveled to a Port of Entry to seek parole.
CHNV parole grants will terminate on April 24, 2025, for those whose parole has not already expired, unless the Secretary makes an individual determination to the contrary.
How does this termination impact employment authorization?
Employment authorization for CHNV parolees who presented, as part of the employment verification (I-9) process, an Employment Authorization Document in the “C11” category will end on April 24, 2025. If employees who are impacted by this termination have other forms of employment authorization, employers must follow I-9 reverification procedures and update the I-9 forms prior to April 24, 2025.
When do CHNV Parolees need to depart the United States?
Parolees without a lawful basis to remain in the United States must depart the United States before their parole termination date or April 24, 2025, whichever is earlier.
Individuals who depart the United States through a land border Port of Entry should report their departure once outside the United States through the CBP Home mobile app. Individuals should visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website here for more information about voluntarily reporting their departure.
What actions will DHS take against CHNV parolees?
- DHS generally intends to remove promptly individuals who entered the United States under the CHNV parole programs who do not depart the United States before their parole termination date and do not have any lawful basis to remain in the United States.
- DHS has indicated that it has discretion to begin an enforcement action against any noncitizen at any time, including during the 30-day waiting period that runs from March 25, 2025, to April 24, 2025, created by DHS’ Federal Register Notice.
- DHS intends to prioritize for removal those individuals who:
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- have not, prior to the publication of this notice, properly filed an immigration benefit request, with appropriate fee (or fee waiver request, if available) to obtain a lawful basis to remain in the United States ( g., adjustment of status, asylum, Temporary Protected Status, or T or U nonimmigrant status) and
- are not the beneficiary of an immigration benefit request properly filed by someone else on their behalf ( g., petition for alien relative, fiancé petition, petition for immigrant employee), with appropriate fee (or fee waiver request, if available).
- The government may in its discretion initiate expedited removal proceedings against CHNV parolees who have been in the United States for less than two years.
Individuals who have since obtained a lawful immigration status or other basis that permits them to remain in the United States are not required to depart the United States pursuant to DHS’ Federal Register Notice.
Nilan Johnson Lewis is monitoring any possible litigation that may challenge DHS’ termination of the CHNV parole programs.
