The Trump administration is moving to revoke the legal status of thousands of migrants who were allowed to enter the U.S. under former President Joe Biden's immigration policies, according to internal government documents reviewed by CBS News.

This reversal targets a program known as CHNV, which permitted more than 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. legally if they secured an American sponsor. The Biden administration argued that this initiative helped curb illegal immigration by providing a lawful pathway for those fleeing economic and political crises. However, President Trump froze the program immediately after taking office, with officials claiming it misused immigration parole—the legal authority Biden used to grant temporary entry and work permits to participants.

Deportation Proceedings for CHNV Migrants

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed revoking the parole status of migrants admitted through CHNV. Under this plan, individuals who fail to obtain another form of legal immigration status—such as asylum, a green card, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS)—will be placed in deportation proceedings.

It remains unclear how many CHNV beneficiaries have applied for alternative immigration protections. If their parole status is rescinded and they lack another legal pathway, they will lose their work authorization and receive notices to appear in immigration court, marking the first step toward deportation.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration expanded the authority of federal immigration officers, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to target and deport individuals admitted under Biden-era immigration policies. In some cases, expedited deportations may be used.

TPS and Other Immigration Protections at Risk

Some migrants from Haiti and Venezuela are currently shielded under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which provides work permits and protection from deportation due to dangerous conditions in their home countries. However, the Trump administration has begun dismantling these protections, rescinding a Biden-era TPS extension for Venezuelans, putting many at risk of losing legal status sooner than expected.

Cuban migrants who entered under parole may have a unique pathway to permanent residency through Cold War-era laws, while others may apply for asylum—though asylum cases require applicants to prove they face persecution based on factors such as politics or religion, a high legal threshold that many fail to meet.

Tom Jawetz, a former DHS immigration official under Biden, condemned the move, saying:

"Targeting people who came to the U.S. with sponsors and continue to play by the rules isn't just gratuitously cruel, but it will make our system more chaotic."

A Broader Crackdown on Immigration

President Trump has made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of his policies, pursuing an aggressive crackdown on both illegal and legal immigration. His administration has:

• Halted the American asylum system through executive orders.

• Expanded ICE’s authority to deport non-criminal undocumented immigrants.

• Deployed military planes and Pentagon resources for border enforcement.

• Paused refugee resettlement programs, blocking lawful pathways for those fleeing conflict zones.

In addition to ending the CHNV program, Trump officials have dismantled other Biden-era immigration measures, including:

• A mobile app that allowed migrants in Mexico to schedule appointments at legal border entry points.

• Programs for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion and Afghans escaping Taliban rule.

• A process that allowed Central American children to reunite with relatives in the U.S.

The Trump administration has ordered DHS officials to review all Biden-era immigration parole programs and consider permanently terminating them. This move signals a broader effort to roll back Biden’s immigration policies, reshaping the U.S. immigration system with stricter enforcement and reduced legal pathways for migrants.