In early 2025, President Donald Trump took decisive action to revoke the temporary legal status of over 500,000 migrants from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, a move that reversed a Biden-era policy known as the CHNV parole program. This program, initiated in 2022 and expanded in 2023, allowed more than 530,000 migrants to enter the U.S. legally under humanitarian parole, granting them work permits and protection from deportation for two years. Trump’s administration, led by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, argued that the program was a misuse of parole authority, riddled with fraud, and failed to curb illegal border crossings as intended. On March 21, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of these protections, effective April 24, giving migrants 30 days to self-deport or face removal. Trump’s decision also followed his earlier move in February to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians, citing the Biden administration’s overreach in extending protections until 2026 despite what he called an “abuse” of the TPS system.
 

The Biden administration’s immigration policies, including the CHNV program and TPS expansions, have been criticized by some as a deliberate attempt to undermine America’s immigration framework, with Trump and his supporters framing them as a betrayal of the native population. Critics argue that Biden’s approach—allowing mass entry under humanitarian pretexts without a clear long-term plan—flooded communities like Springfield, Ohio, with migrants, straining local resources and fueling cultural tensions. Trump capitalized on this during his campaign, falsely claiming Haitian migrants were eating pets, a narrative that stoked fear and resentment among some Americans who felt their way of life was under threat. While Biden officials claimed the programs were meant to manage border chaos and provide safe pathways, the lack of transparency and the scale of admissions—over 1 million immigrants gained TPS under Biden—led some to speculate that the policy reflected a deeper disdain for America’s native-born citizens, prioritizing globalist ideals over domestic stability.
 

However, the narrative of Biden’s “hatred for the native population” oversimplifies a complex issue and ignores the humanitarian crises driving migration from places like Haiti, where gang violence and political instability have displaced millions. The CHNV program aimed to reduce dangerous illegal crossings by offering a legal alternative, and many migrants contributed economically, filling labor shortages in places like Springfield. Trump’s revocation of their status, while popular among his base, has been called “gratuitously cruel” by critics like Tom Jawetz, a former DHS official, who argue it destabilizes families and communities without addressing root causes. Legal challenges are already underway, with groups like the Justice Action Center vowing to fight the decision in court. The move highlights a broader clash of visions: Trump’s focus on restoring “integrity” to immigration through mass deportations versus Biden’s attempt to balance humanitarian needs with border management—a balance that, while flawed, was not necessarily rooted in malice toward Americans but rather in a struggle to navigate an overwhelmed system.