Last week the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a notice announcing its intent to end categorical parole programs (CHNV) for citizens of Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua. The notice will be effective 30 days from the scheduled 3/25/25 date of publication in the Federal Register. These categorical parole programs have been available to potentially eligible beneficiaries and their families and provided a temporary yet legal immigration status that can be accompanied by work authorization. DHS estimates this Parole status change impacts 532,000 immigrants nationally. The Trump administration had stopped Parole applications in January and the termination of CHNV for immigrants from Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua will go into effect on April 24, 2025.
As previously reported, the Trump administration also announced terminations of temporary protected status (TPS) for Venezuela effective April 7, 2025 and Haiti effective August 3, 2025. Employers should be aware that, unless pending lawsuits result in changes to these dates, individuals from the four countries affected by the termination of TPS or CHNV will no longer be authorized to work once their respective statuses expire.