CHNV Program: Deportations, International Law, and Humanitarian Concerns
By Norman Franklin
By Norman Franklin
The relentless grip of deportations burrows deep into the soul of America—a nation once seen as a refuge for the poor, the tired, the oppressed, and the huddled masses.
There is another layer to the issue of immigrant deportation. Nearly 1.4 million immigrants whose legal status has expired now face the threat of deportation. The CHNV program, an acronym representing the participating nationalities, was originally established in fall 2022 for Venezuelan immigrants. It was later expanded in January 2023 to include Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans.
The humanitarian parole program granted these immigrants legal status, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation and the violence and corruption they fled in their home countries. The program structure allowed 30,000 immigrants per month to enter the U.S. and was designed to run for three years. However, the Biden administration chose not to renew any expiring parole grants, and President Trump later terminated the program.
Now, CHNV immigrants live under the constant threat of deportation—an imminent danger that carries the ominous weight of persecution upon their return. Many fled political oppression, gang violence, rebel-controlled governance, and ongoing humanitarian crises.
International Legal Obligations Under international law, the U.S. has a legal obligation to uphold protections outlined in the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Convention Against Torture (CAT). These treaties reinforce the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they face persecution, torture, or serious harm due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group membership.
There are four key legal obligations under these treaties:
Asylum Protection – Ensuring individuals can seek refuge. Prohibition on Deportation to Danger – Preventing forced returns to life-threatening conditions. Due Process – Providing fair legal proceedings before removal.
Prohibition of Collective Expulsions – Evaluating each case individually. The Refugee Act of 1980 codified these principles into U.S. law, but enforcement has varied. With shifting policies and mass deportations, these commitments now face significant challenges.
A Legal Pathway Reversed The CHNV program provided a safe and legal alternative to dangerous migration routes where exploitation, trafficking, and persecution are rampant threats. However, aggressive deportation policies continue to divide those focused on justice and humanitarian obligations from those prioritizing national security and enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has authorized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to arrest, detain, and deport some migrants without due process, meaning they do not receive a hearing before an immigration judge. This policy has created a pathway for the deportation of more than one million legally residing CHNV migrants.
Such is life in America for these immigrants. For two years, they lived and worked in peace, hoping to build a better future. Now, that hope is uncertain, and their dreams hang in the balance.