Trump Policy to Revoke Protections for Migrants, Including Ukrainians

The Trump administration plans to revoke temporary legal status for roughly 240,000 Ukrainians who fled Russia’s invasion, along with over 1.8 million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and other nations, according to officials and sources. The move, expected to start in April, would reverse Biden-era humanitarian parole programs that allowed entry to those escaping conflict or persecution, potentially subjecting them to fast-track deportation.

The policy aligns with a January executive order directing the termination of “categorical parole programs,” which Trump claims exceed U.S. immigration law. Migrants who entered legally through ports of entry or via programs like the CBP One app could face indefinite detention or removal, per internal ICE guidelines.

Affected families, like Liana Avetisian’s from Ukraine, now face uncertainty. Her family’s legal status expires in May, and their renewal applications are stalled. “We don’t know what to do,” she said, reflecting widespread anxiety.

The crackdown also impacts U.S. allies, such as Rafi, a former Afghan intelligence officer who aided American troops. Despite a CIA recommendation highlighting his service and Taliban threats, his parole was revoked during a routine ICE check-in. Detained in Virginia, he said, “I wasn’t expecting this behavior from them.”

ICE declined to release Rafi, citing shifted priorities under Trump. Similar cases involve Afghans and others who entered under Biden’s policies, which aimed to curb illegal crossings by offering regulated pathways.

The Department of Homeland Security has not formally announced the changes, but internal emails signal accelerated enforcement. Advocates warn the moves risk destabilizing families and betraying allies, while the administration frames them as restoring immigration order. With legal battles looming, thousands await clarity on their futures.