The Trump administration is taking steps to end Biden-era parole programs that allowed over a million migrants to temporarily enter the U.S., according to The New York Times. A memo signed by Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman directs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use expedited deportation powers, bypassing immigration courts, to remove migrants who entered through these programs.
The programs targeted include the CBP One app, which let migrants schedule appointments to enter the U.S., and pathways for people fleeing Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. These initiatives were designed to provide legal entry options and discourage illegal crossings. Migrants under these programs were granted a two-year period of “parole,” but the new guidance aims to strip that status and accelerate deportations for those who overstayed or failed to apply for asylum.
Critics argue the move unfairly punishes individuals who followed government rules. Former Biden officials and immigrant advocates call it a betrayal of trust, with the ACLU pledging to challenge the decision in court. Supporters of the change, however, claim these programs acted as a loophole to facilitate mass immigration.
The memo prioritizes deporting migrants who have been in the U.S. longer than a year and urges ICE to evaluate cases already in progress for expedited removal. It also affects individuals from other programs, including those for Afghans and Ukrainians, potentially ending their temporary legal protections.
