Fear of Deportation Looms for Humanitarian Parole Recipients Amid Policy Shift

The Trump administration's plan to revoke the legal status of over 530,000 individuals in the United States under the humanitarian parole program has created widespread anxiety among migrants who fear deportation. Gabriela, a Cuban national residing in Tennessee, shares that she has become increasingly isolated since the announcement, reflecting the broader sentiment of insecurity among recipients, many of whom are from Latin America. She stated, "I live in an area where immigrants are viewed in a somewhat complicated way," highlighting the historical context of racism in the region.

Similarly, Leandro, a Venezuelan asylum seeker currently living in Texas, expressed his concern that the policy change may jeopardize his employment at Tesla and his asylum application. He remarked, "In two years here I have achieved things, but now I feel that they are hanging by a thread."

Kevin, a Nicaraguan migrant in Austin, fears that even minor mistakes could lead to deportation, stating, "If they send me back to Nicaragua... they’ll put me in jail." As fear and uncertainty rise, many migrants are looking for legal alternatives to protect their status in the U.S.