Washington, D.C. – Late last Friday week, with a notice on the Federal Register, the administration announced it will be revoking temporary protections for over half a million Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans under the CHNV Humanitarian Parole Program. Over 500,000 immigrants, disproportionately Black and brown, are now facing the termination of their work permits and protections from deportation in a matter of weeks, by April 25th. This comes just days after the administration deported hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants on mass flights to El Salvador, despite a federal judge’s order requiring the flights be immediately turned around.
In response to this news, United We Dream released the following statement:
“No matter where we were born, every single one of us deserves to keep our families safe and have equality and fairness under the law. The CHNV program was not perfect but it helped to fulfill our values as a country to welcome immigrants facing crises with dignity and respect and reunite families. Every individual who was part of the program had a sponsor in the U.S., many of them loved ones and family members who provided financial, legal and emotional support.Not only will shutting down the CHNV program disproportionately harm Black and brown immigrants, it will make them directly vulnerable to being abducted at the hands of ICE, thrown into detention facilities where abuse is rampant, and disappeared from their loved ones indefinitely. Ending this program will mean shamefully turning our backs as a country on entire families and communities who, through this program, have finally had a sense of stability. As the attacks on immigrants continue to mount, we urge elected officials at every level to defend immigrants now.”
