Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: DHS Hits 500K Migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua & Venezuela With Exit Orders

A major immigration shake-up just hit, and CNN got the scoop first. The Department of Homeland Security has officially told more than 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela that their legal right to stay and work in the U.S. is over.

These folks came through a Biden-era parole program launched in 2023, meant to offer a legal path for migrants to live in the U.S. if they passed background checks and had a sponsor. But now, under a Trump administration order backed by a green light from the Supreme Court, that program is being shut down fast.

Emails went out Thursday to everyone enrolled in the program. The message? Their parole has been terminated. If they don’t leave voluntarily, they could be detained or deported—and work permits linked to the program are now void.

Trump’s team says it’s about restoring control to U.S. immigration policies, calling it “a return to common sense.” Officials also offered up some help—those willing to leave can get $1,000 and travel assistance through the CBP app.

Still, the move has sparked serious backlash. Many of the affected migrants came legally, followed every rule, and now have families, jobs, and lives rooted in the U.S. Advocates warn this could create chaos, especially for people with no backup options.

While the Supreme Court decision is temporary, it lets Trump’s administration move forward with deportations while the legal fight continues in lower courts.

Bottom line: This isn’t just a policy change. It’s a life-altering decision for half a million people who thought they’d found safety and stability—only to be told their time’s up.

Stay tuned. This battle is far from over.