Biden Admin Won't Extend Legal Status for Venezuelan Migrants Who Arrived Under Humanitarian Program

The Biden administration will not extend the humanitarian parole program that allowed over 115,000 Venezuelans migrate to the U.S. legally, CBS News reported on Thursday.

The program, known as CHNV, was launched in October 2022 to discourage unlawful immigration. It allowed applicants to enter the country provided a sponsor vouched to support them financially with a certain amount of funds. Three months later it was expanded to include migrants from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua. This sponsor is meant to be responsible for meeting basic needs such as housing, healthcare, and education, and helping beneficiaries integrate into U.S. society.

Overall, more than half a million people from these countries have entered the U.S. and have been able to live and work legally ever since. Other nationals allowed to enter under parole, which presidents can use on humanitarian or public interest reasons, are Ukrainians and Afghans.

Even though observers expected the government to extend the program, officials have decided against it, the outlet reported. Those affected will be given instructions to apply for another immigration benefit or leave the country, it added. It's not clear whether other nationals will be impacted by the decision and Venezuelans who arrived before July 2023 may still be eligible for parole.

Venezuelans could apply for asylum, although they would need to prove they are fleeing persecution, and it's not clear how long getting it would take. In the meantime, many could be left in a legal limbo, unable to work legally and not exempt from deportation. It is also unclear what next steps for them would be if the U.S. decides to deport them as Venezuela is not accepting deportation flights.

Former President Donald Trump has vowed to end the program if elected in the November elections. He said last week that he would terminate both CHNV and the CBP One app, which allows migrants to request asylum from Mexico.

"I would revoke it," Trump said, referring to the CBP One app, which he called "bad." He further criticized the parole program, calling it "even worse" because it allows recipients to fly directly to the U.S. He then argued that, despite holding legal status for two years, parole recipients are "illegal immigrants" who should not be in the country, adding that deportations would be prioritized, especially for those with criminal records.

When asked by a Fox journalist to send a message to the 1.3 million total who have been paroled in the country (referring to both the CHNV program and the CBP One App), Trump responded: "get ready to leave because you're going to be going out real fast."