Parole, in this context, is a type of permission that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can give when you ask to be allowed into the U.S. It allows you to stay here for a period of time and to apply for a work permit. Individuals granted parole under the CHNV program were given permission to remain and work in the United States for two years. 

The program was started under the Biden administration in October 2022 for Venezuelans and in January 2023 for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans.

No. On October 4, 2024, the Biden administration announced that there would be no re-parole process for the CHNV parolees. This means you cannot get an extension on your CHNV parole.

No. DHS terminated the CHNV program on March 25, 2025. There is no way to submit a new application for someone still living abroad.

If you were paroled into the United States under this program over two years ago, your parole has expired. You may be able to apply for another type of status, but you no longer have parole under the CHNV program.

On March 25, 2025, DHS tried to terminate the parole of everyone who arrived under the CHNV program. A lawsuit was then filed, and the judge blocked the termination. As of the date of this guidance, if you arrived in the United States less than two years ago, your parole under the CHNV program is still valid until the original expiration date you were given, and you can still work under that program if you have an unexpired work authorization. For updates on the lawsuit, click here.

DHS has been sending messages to some people who were paroled into the U.S., ending their parole and telling them to leave the U.S. immediately.

If you have been here for less than two years under the CHNV program, because of the court decision, that notice of termination does not apply to you. You are still covered by the CHNV program and can still live and work here legally.

If you have been here for more than two years, past the expiration date of your parole, you no longer have parole, unless you applied for some other immigration benefit.

If you have a work permit based on parole, the category on the front of the card will say C11. That document is valid until it expires, as long as the CHNV program continues.

If you applied for asylum, you have the right to stay here and continue pursuing your asylum claim.

If you applied for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and now your application is still pending, you may be able to stay here while your TPS application is pending, assuming TPS is still available for your country and, if applicable, for your specific year of designation. Immigration authorities may still try to deport you because you have not yet been granted TPS. For updates on the status of TPS for your country click here.

If you are approved for TPS, you have the right to stay here while you have TPS.

The Trump administration has suspended the review of applications filed by people who entered under the CHNV program. There is a lawsuit pending about this, but it may now take a longer time than usual to get a decision on your TPS application.

If you haven’t applied for anything and you have been here for less than two years, you should still have parole under the CHNV program, as long as the program continues and up to the expiration date of your parole. If it has been more than two years and you haven’t applied for anything else, you would be out of status.

DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is in charge of detaining and deporting people. If you are afraid to live in your home country and ICE detains you, be sure to say that to ICE.

This is especially important to do if ICE tries to put you into “expedited removal,” a fast process where you are not able to see a judge. You should not be put into “expedited removal” if you have been here for more than two years, or if you have been here less than two years and the lawsuit injunction is still pending. But if you have been here for less than two years and CHNV is ultimately terminated, you are at risk of expedited removal. If you are afraid of returning to your home country and are in expedited removal, be sure to tell an ICE officer about your fear of returning to your home country.

What happens if you have an encounter with ICE depends on the facts of your particular situation. To learn about your rights in general if you have an encounter with ICE, see our ICE Encounters factsheet.

The information in this document has been prepared by The Legal Aid Society for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. You should not act upon any information without retaining professional legal counsel.