Trump Ends Legal Immigration Pathway Program for Cubans, Haitians, and Venezuelans

Trump signed a series of executive orders on Monday, bringing sweeping changes that include suspending refugee resettlement, reinstating the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy, and terminating a major parole program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

This action dismantled several programs introduced under the Biden administration, including the CBP One app, which allowed migrants to request immigration appointments electronically.

One of the most notable actions is the termination of the CHNV parole program, which had provided a legal pathway for more than 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to temporarily enter the U.S. The program operated through the CBP One app, a digital platform that also facilitated appointments for other migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Since its inception, the app allowed over 1 million individuals to schedule immigration appointments remotely, eliminating the need for migrants to physically present themselves at the border. The goal was to reduce crowding at entry points and dissuade dangerous, unauthorized crossings.

However, in his executive order, Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to “cease using the ‘CBP One’ application as a method of paroling or facilitating the entry of otherwise inadmissible aliens into the United States.” The order also required DHS to terminate “all categorical parole programs that are contrary to the policies of the United States,” including the CHNV program.

Shortly after Trump signed the executive orders, the website for the CBP One app was listed as “no longer available,” and tens of thousands of immigration appointments scheduled through the platform were marked as “cancelled.” The CHNV website was also taken down, leaving migrants in limbo.

Additionally, Trump reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires migrants at the southern border to wait in Mexico while their immigration court cases proceed.

Another major aspect of Trump’s executive actions is the suspension of refugee resettlement in the United States. While details of this suspension were not fully disclosed in the executive order, it halts efforts to relocate refugees from conflict zones and other vulnerable populations seeking asylum in the U.S.