Supreme Court Greenlights Trump Administration to End Parole Protections for Over Half a Million Migrants

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can temporarily revoke legal protections for more than 500,000 migrants under a humanitarian parole program. This decision overturns a federal judge’s earlier injunction that prevented the administration from ending the CHNV parole program. Migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who had been allowed to live and work in the U.S. under this program now face the threat of deportation.

Created by the Biden administration, the CHNV program granted temporary two-year status to migrants due to urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefits. It was intended to protect those fleeing political turmoil, violence, and economic crises. However, the Trump administration challenged the program, arguing it was unlawful and abused. The Supreme Court’s ruling now enables the government to dismantle the program.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, along with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, dissented from the majority opinion. Jackson warned that the ruling could cause catastrophic consequences for hundreds of thousands of migrants by stripping protections before their legal claims could be heard. She urged the courts to fully consider the migrants’ circumstances before ending the parole program.

The move aligns with Trump’s longstanding immigration policies. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to eliminate parole programs. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem officially announced the end of the CHNV parole in March. Several immigrant rights groups quickly filed lawsuits to stop the administration’s efforts, arguing deportations would put migrants at serious risk.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller celebrated the court’s decision, labeling migrants as “invaders.” His statement drew sharp criticism from immigrant advocates who decried the language as dehumanizing and inflammatory. These groups have vowed to continue fighting for migrant rights and protections despite the legal setbacks.

This decision follows a recent Supreme Court ruling permitting the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelan migrants. Together, the rulings signify a broader push to curtail humanitarian immigration programs that have historically offered refuge to those fleeing conflict and hardship.

Humanitarian parole has been a critical pathway for immigrants escaping crises for decades, including Cuban refugees after the 1960s revolution and Ukrainians fleeing recent conflict. With the CHNV program halted, the future of such protections hangs in the balance, and many migrants face an uncertain and potentially dangerous fate.