U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the cancellation of key immigration programs established by his predecessor, Joe Biden, putting millions of migrants at risk of deportation.
The programs, which allowed migrants from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Ukraine to stay in the U.S. under a temporary legal status called “parole,” are now being phased out.
A memo issued this week grants U.S. immigration officials the power to deport migrants, even if they have valid permits under these programs.
Around 1.4 million migrants entered the U.S. through these programs since 2023, but the new policy suggests they could be removed quickly without going through regular court processes.
This move has raised concerns, especially among migrants who fled difficult conditions in their home countries.
Trump officials argue that the Biden-era programs were unlawful and encouraged illegal immigration.
Stephen Miller, a key figure behind Trump’s hardline immigration policies, criticised the programs as a way to “fly illegal aliens into small American towns.”
However, immigrant advocates strongly oppose the decision.
Tom Jawetz, a former Biden administration official, called it an “unprecedented betrayal,” while Karen Tumlin of the Justice Action Center said it undermines the trust of migrants who followed all government requirements.
The new deportation powers are already being challenged in court, with critics accusing the Trump administration of bypassing due process and tearing communities apart.
