US issues new self-deportation notices to paroled immigrants

Key Takeaways

• Over 900,000 CBP One app users face self-deportation orders due to shifting government immigration policy.
• Court orders pause mass removals and require case-by-case review for CHNV humanitarian parole recipients.
• DHS’s digital notice system sent erroneous self-deportation emails to U.S. citizens and immigration lawyers.

Hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the United States 🇺🇸 who had entered under President Biden’s parole programs are now facing sudden changes, as the government under President Trump moves to reverse policies that once let them stay and work legally. Many have started getting self-deportation notices, telling them to leave immediately. The fate of these paroled immigrants—especially those who came through the CBP One app—now hangs in the balance as courts block some parts of these efforts and mistakes in the government’s process cause confusion even for U.S. citizens.

A quick look at the current turn of events can help you understand what this means if you or someone you know could be affected.

Policy Shift: Who Must Leave, and Why Now?

Since early 2023, more than 900,000 people used the CBP One app to enter the United States 🇺🇸 legally. This app is an online system where people can schedule appointments with U.S. border officials, and get a special legal status called “parole.” Parole gives them permission to stay in the country for up to two years and allows them to work.

Another large group—over 532,000 people from Cuba 🇨🇺, Haiti 🇭🇹, Nicaragua 🇳🇮, and Venezuela 🇻🇪—entered under a humanitarian rule called the CHNV program, guided by President Biden to address emergencies in their home countries.

But now, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has started sending out notices to these immigrants. The message is clear: they must “self-deport,” which means they are expected to leave the United States 🇺🇸 on their own or face arrest, detention, and forced removal. For many, this has caused anxiety and confusion, especially since the rules were so different just months ago.

Paroled Immigrants and Digital Tools: How the CBP One App and “CBP Home” Are Used

Let’s break down how these systems work:

• CBP One app: This is a government tool that allowed migrants to start their entries in a legal, orderly way. More than 900,000 used it since January 2023 for parole status and work permits.

• “CBP Home”: This is a new name for a version of the same online tool, now rebranded for processing self-deportation registrations. If you get one of these notices, you’re told to register your planned departure through this app.

Paroled immigrants were surprised to receive sudden emails or alerts on these apps that their permission to stay had ended. Usually, these electronic notices:

• Tell the person to leave the United States 🇺🇸 immediately.
• Say that if they don’t leave, they could be arrested and deported by immigration officers.
• Carry instructions to use the CBP Home app to register their departure, which officials call “self-deportation.”
• Clarify that the only exception to this is if the person now has another way to stay legally, like applying for asylum.

One notice, shared in CBS News and quoted by Straight Arrow News, states: “If you do not depart the United States immediately, you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States — unless you have otherwise obtained a lawful basis to remain here.”

Impacts: Who Gets These Notices?

The biggest affected groups are:

• People who used the CBP One app for two-year parole.
• Citizens of Cuba 🇨🇺, Haiti 🇭🇹, Nicaragua 🇳🇮, and Venezuela 🇻🇪 who joined the CHNV humanitarian program.
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders: While about 600,000 Venezuelans 🇻🇪 and 500,000 Haitians 🇭🇹 with TPS faced a similar target for removal, the actual enforcement of these steps is slowed down by court cases.

The scale is massive: altogether, these moves would affect over two million people, leading to widespread uncertainty in homes, workplaces, and communities.

Mistakes, Errors, and Due Process

Not all notices have gone to the right people. Due to mistakes in DHS’s computer and email systems, some U.S. citizens—even lawyers who help with immigration cases—got self-deportation notices by accident. For example, two citizens in Massachusetts who are immigration lawyers got emails telling them to leave the country. These issues add layers of worry, and make it harder for affected immigrants to understand what’s happening.

Legal experts say no matter what the notice says, people on U.S. soil still have rights. As attorney Emmanuel Olawale reminded, “You still have a right to due process under the 14th amendment… which covers citizens and noncitizens if on U.S. soil.” This means the government can’t force removal without giving a chance to be heard, whether in court or in another legal process.

Courts Step In: Orders to Slow or Stop Mass Removals

While DHS has been sending self-deportation notices, at least some judges have stepped in to block these efforts, saying that mass removal notices aren’t fair. For example, Judge Indira Talwani stopped the government from ending parole protection for anyone in the CHNV program without a proper, case-by-case review. This means people in these programs can’t just be told to leave without a real review of their individual cases first.

That court decision temporarily stops some of the planned removals—at least until each case gets a closer look. It also means that the earlier warnings about “voluntarily depart by April or face removal” are on hold, for now.

TPS holders—Venezuelans and Haitians with special status because their home countries are dangerous—also have extra time, as court battles delay any quick end of their protected stays.

Why Now? The Policy Change Explained

The decision to start self-deportation for paroled immigrants comes from a sharp change in direction under President Trump. Under President Biden, parole programs and the CBP One app were added to offer safe, legal paths for people fleeing violence or hardship to live and work in the United States 🇺🇸 for two years. The new government argues that those tools let too many people in and wants to cut back.

Instead of letting all these parolees and TPS holders wait while their cases linger, the policy now aims to clear out as many as possible—unless they have started another legal process (like applying for asylum). The government is using the tools built under President Biden’s policy—the same apps and online systems—to tell people to leave instead of letting them stay.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests this approach is not only a shift in how policies are run but also deeply affects people who made plans, jobs, and homes based on their legal permission to stay.

Digital Registration: Is “Self-Deportation” Really Voluntary?

A key question many ask is: Is it truly “voluntary” to self-deport if your only other option is arrest? For most receiving these notices, it doesn’t feel like a real choice. The instructions are strict: leave immediately, and—using the same technology that let you enter—register your departure through the app, or officials may come to find you.

With thousands unable to renew their status, prepare travel, find new jobs, or make new plans for their families, this “self-deportation” system brings about stress, fear, and practical problems every day.

Broader Impacts: What Happens Now?

If you’re an immigrant under these programs, here’s what you may be facing:

• Legal Uncertainty: Even with court orders in place to slow down mass removals, your long-term right to stay in the United States 🇺🇸 may soon hinge on individual reviews by officials or judges.
• Family Disruption: Families with mixed statuses (some members U.S. citizens, others paroled immigrants) face the possibility of being split up, which brings emotional pain, legal confusion, and challenges for children.
• Economic Impact: Many paroled immigrants are already working legally, paying taxes, and supporting businesses. Ending their work permits or forcing them to leave will have impacts on local economies and employers.
• Community Effects: The sudden removal or threat to so many people who have integrated into neighborhoods, schools, and religious life brings uncertainty for the whole community.

TPS Holders: A Slight Delay but the Same Threat

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a rule that lets people from countries suffering from disasters or civil war stay and work in the United States 🇺🇸 for a set period. DHS recently tried to end this status for some 600,000 Venezuelans 🇻🇪 and 500,000 Haitians 🇭🇹. As of now, these moves are paused while lawsuits work through federal courts. But unless the courts permanently overturn these efforts, these large groups will face the same pressure to self-deport in the months ahead.

Due Process: Your Rights Matter

If you or someone you know gets a self-deportation notice, remember:

• Legal experts say you have the right to due process. This means you get a hearing or time to prove if you have another way to stay.
• Notices are not the same as a final court order. Don’t panic, but do ask for legal help quickly.
• Mistakes can happen, as seen with notices going to citizens or people with other legal status.

If you need to check the legal requirements for leaving or staying, or want to know more about parole and other forms of relief, the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website is a helpful starting point for parole information.

What Should Paroled Immigrants and TPS Holders Do Next?

If you receive a notice to self-deport:

1. Check your notice carefully to see if you still have any legal status—some people may have asylum applications or court cases that give them protection.
2. Save any emails or app messages as proof of what you received and when.
3. Contact a trusted immigration lawyer or local legal help as soon as possible. There are often free legal services or non-profits who can help explain your options.
4. Don’t leave the country without understanding your rights—for some, leaving could block you from returning for many years. Talk to someone who knows your case.

Summary Table: Groups, Statuses, and What’s Next

Next Steps and Ongoing Legal Action

Though the policy changes have made life less certain for many, courts are closely watching and holding off some of the most sweeping removals until each case gets a full review. No one is being asked to leave instantly without some hope of challenge, but the government’s message is stern: unless you have a new legal path (like a pending asylum or another relief claim), you need to prepare to leave.

It’s important to keep up to date with court rulings, seek legal help, and follow government announcements through trusted sources. Changes can happen fast.

In the weeks ahead, many will watch for:

• How federal courts rule on whether the government can remove people without deeper review.
• Whether there will be fixes to the mistake-ridden notice system.
• Steps taken by the administration to help, or further restrict, paroled immigrants and TPS holders.

For the latest updates, it’s wise to visit official sites or reliable platforms such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for new policy releases.

As reported by VisaVerge.com and several news agencies, the story is far from over. For people affected, there are still ways to seek help, use resources, and make the best-informed choices as policies continue to shift.

While uncertainty remains, the most important step for anyone impacted is to get legal advice, know your rights, and stay alert as this issue continues to unfold in the courts and in government policy. Even in times of sudden policy reversal, knowing the basics—and how to access credible resources—can make all the difference.

Learn Today

Parole → A temporary legal status permitting certain immigrants to live and work in the U.S. for a set period, often humanitarian.
CBP One app → A U.S. government application that lets migrants schedule appointments and request parole through digital entry processes.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) → A designation allowing people from unsafe countries to live and work temporarily in the U.S. during crisis conditions.
Self-deportation → A process where immigrants are told to leave the country independently, often under government threat of enforcement if they stay.
Due Process → A legal right under the U.S. Constitution ensuring fair procedures before the government removes or penalizes individuals.

This Article in a Nutshell

Massive policy shifts under President Trump mean hundreds of thousands of paroled immigrants now receive self-deportation notices, creating confusion and fear. Court interventions temporarily halt some removals, but legal uncertainty reigns. Mistakes affect even citizens. Prompt legal consultation and vigilance are crucial as immigration policies and enforcement rapidly evolve in the United States.
— By VisaVerge.com

Read more:

• U.S. government targets self-deportation for paroled immigrants
• Undocumented immigrants in South Florida fear deportation
• Trump registration rule alarms immigrants facing deportation
• Federal data collection targets immigrants’ housing and jobs
• Supreme Court grants Venezuelan immigrants a right to hearing