On September 25, 2024, during a Fox News interview, former President Donald Trump announced his intention to repeal two key immigration programs initiated by the Biden administration. These programs, which have provided relief for over a million migrants, specifically focus on asylum seekers from several countries and offer them temporary legal status in the U.S. through the use of humanitarian parole.
Trump’s pledge forms a cornerstone of his 2024 presidential campaign, reinforcing his hardline immigration stance. According to Trump, if re-elected, he would dismantle the current system and oversee mass deportations of individuals who benefited from these programs, including many from countries like Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua. In his statement, he emphasized that those admitted under humanitarian parole should “get ready to leave,” promising swift action to deport them.
Humanitarian parole and the CBP One app
The humanitarian parole program launched by President Biden in late 2022 allowed up to 30,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua to enter the U.S. monthly, provided they had a financial sponsor and passed background checks. This initiative aimed to provide a more orderly and safe alternative for asylum seekers, reducing the risks associated with crossing the southern border illegally.
As of September 2024, this program has benefited approximately 530,000 individuals, many of whom entered the U.S. by air, bypassing the dangerous overland journey through Central America.
Another key program targeted by Trump is the CBP One App, a digital tool that allows asylum seekers to schedule appointments at border crossings rather than attempt to cross unlawfully. Launched in January 2023, the app has helped over 813,000 migrants enter the U.S. under a more regulated and vetted system. Together, these programs have been credited with reducing border chaos and the reliance on human smuggling networks.
The legal and political debate
Republican critics, led by Trump, have attacked both programs, arguing they circumvent Congress’s authority to set immigration laws. Trump, supported by his former immigration advisor Stephen Miller, asserts that these programs allow otherwise ineligible individuals to remain in the U.S., weakening immigration control. Miller, who architected much of Trump’s first-term immigration policies, has outlined plans for mass deportations if Trump regains office.
Republican-led states have also challenged these initiatives in court, claiming they place undue burdens on state resources and bypass immigration law. However, in a recent Texas ruling, a federal judge allowed the humanitarian parole program to continue, finding that the states did not sufficiently prove financial harm. This legal win for the Biden administration has not deterred Trump, who continues to promise a more aggressive approach should he be re-elected.
Countries affected
Should Trump follow through on his vow to end the humanitarian parole program, the impact will be particularly felt by migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti. The CHNV (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela) program was established in response to economic and political instability in these nations, allowing migrants to temporarily escape dire conditions while receiving work authorization in the U.S. The migrants from these countries represent some of the most vulnerable populations, fleeing violence, persecution, and severe economic downturns.
Immigration advocacy response
Immigration advocates have been vocal in their opposition to Trump’s promises, warning of the humanitarian consequences and the fear being instilled within immigrant communities. Esther Sung, legal director at the Justice Action Center, emphasized that humanitarian parole has long been a tool used by both Republican and Democratic administrations to address urgent humanitarian needs. Sung called Trump’s plans extreme and unprecedented, noting that immigrants benefiting from these programs contribute to the U.S. economy, fill critical labor shortages, and strengthen communities.
“As demonstrated time and again, immigrants strengthen the communities they join, and our economy,” she said. “Not only is this fear-mongering, but it is also extreme, unprecedented, and simply cruel.”
Challenges ahead
Trump’s proposed mass deportation campaign faces
legal, logistical, and financial challenges. In his first term, despite his rhetoric, deportations never exceeded 350,000 annually. Implementing a mass deportation policy targeting over a million individuals would require enormous resources, coordination with state governments, and legal backing that would likely be contested in courts. Moreover, the cost of such an operation could prove prohibitive, with estimates suggesting it would require billions of dollars in taxpayer funding.
Additionally, Trump’s plan to use wartime powers and deploy the military to enforce immigration law would likely trigger constitutional challenges, complicating its implementation. Critics argue that this approach could lead to human rights violations and further strain relations with key U.S. allies in Latin America.
