Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande and entered the United States from Mexico wait in line to be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Eric Gay/AP
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Eric Gay/AP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is ending a program used by the Biden administration to temporarily allow entry to more than half a million migrants fleeing Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
In an executive order signed Monday evening, Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security to “end all categorical parole programs that are contrary to the policies of the United States established in my executive orders,” including the parole program humanitarian for these four countries.
“One of my most important obligations is to protect the American people from the disastrous effects of mass migration and illegal relocations,” Trump said in his executive order. “My administration will mobilize all available resources and authorities to stop this unprecedented flood of illegal aliens entering the United States.”
Nearly 30,000 migrants have obtained temporary residence each month since January 2023.
It is unclear what will happen to the hundreds of thousands of people currently on humanitarian parole.
The Biden administration suspended the program due to fraud concerns. In October, he decided not to renew the legal status of people in the program, saying migrants should find a different path to legal status once their parole expires.
Biden’s initiative allowed migrants from these troubled countries to seek entry from their countries for “urgent humanitarian reasons or an important public interest”, without having to attempt to cross illegally outside a port of entrance. A US-based sponsor and background check were required to apply.
Once approved, migrants were allowed to stay in the country for up to two years, obtain a work permit and be protected from deportation.
Since 2023, 531,690 people have been granted humanitarian parole, according to DHS. The majority come from Haiti.
The program has been credited with helping to reduce the number of illegal migrant crossings from these countries on the U.S.-Mexico border.
