The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a stern warning on Saturday to Cuban, Nicaraguan, Haitian, and Venezuelan nationals who were beneficiaries of the humanitarian parole program but have since lost their status and are unable to legalize their immigration situation.
Kristi Noem, the DHS Secretary, took to X to state, "President Trump and I have a clear message for illegal foreign criminals: 'Leave now.'" The Trump administration's post broadly labels immigrants who arrived through Joe Biden's program, which allowed approximately 532,000 people to enter the U.S. and obtain work permits, as "criminals."
The message on social media underscores that "the world is hearing our message: illegal foreign criminals are not welcome in the United States." It warns undocumented immigrants that failing to leave the U.S. immediately could lead to dire consequences.
The DHS has threatened to pursue and arrest those who remain in the U.S. under the humanitarian parole and incarcerate them. "You might end up in a Salvadoran prison," warns the DHS, referencing the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador, a facility visited by Kristi Noem this week where hundreds of Venezuelan migrants deported by the Trump administration have been detained.
This Friday, the DHS began sending electronic notifications to migrants who entered the country under the humanitarian parole, instructing them to leave the United States or face expulsion. The message to Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan beneficiaries of the program emphasizes that they must voluntarily exit the country or face detention and deportation.
"You must depart the United States on or before the expiration of your parole. Failing to leave in a timely manner may result in adverse immigration consequences," the document states, following the termination of the program through which over 532,000 people entered the U.S.
The policy insists that if migrants have not secured a legal basis to remain in the country and do not leave before their parole expires, they will begin accumulating "unlawful presence in the United States," unless they are "otherwise protected against such accumulation."
"Accumulating more than 180 days of unlawful presence followed by a departure from the United States may result in being deemed inadmissible if you attempt to re-enter within a specified period after departure," the notification explains.
Many Cubans have expressed frustration, fear, and opposition to the measure, which they see as a severe blow to those who entered the U.S. legally, hoping to rebuild their lives. One of those notified on Saturday was independent journalist and former Cuban political prisoner Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca, who now faces the imminent threat of deportation.
Valle Roca, who spent nearly three years in prison, left Cuba in June 2024 after his wife, Eralidis Frómeta, negotiated the possibility of obtaining humanitarian parole at the U.S. embassy in Havana. The activist, who was frequently harassed by the Cuban regime, may be adversely affected by the cancellation of parole programs for foreigners from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
In a Facebook post, Valle Roca expressed his distress about the potential deportation and reaffirmed his opposition to the Cuban regime.
FAQs on U.S. Immigration Policy Changes
What is the humanitarian parole program?
The humanitarian parole program was a U.S. initiative that temporarily allowed individuals from certain countries to enter the United States due to urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. It provided work permits but did not offer a path to permanent residency.
What are the consequences of not leaving the U.S. after parole expiration?
If individuals do not leave the U.S. after their parole expires, they may accumulate unlawful presence, which can lead to detention, deportation, and being barred from re-entry for a period of time.
Why is the DHS threatening deportation to a Salvadoran prison?
The DHS has threatened deportation to a Salvadoran prison as a deterrent, referencing the CECOT in El Salvador, where many migrants deported by the Trump administration have been detained.
How are affected individuals reacting to these policy changes?
Many of those affected, especially from Cuba, have expressed fear, frustration, and opposition to the policy changes, viewing them as a setback to their efforts to establish a new life in the United States.