The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending legal protections for over 500,000 migrants. These individuals came from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. They entered the United States legally under President Joe Biden’s CHNV program. The ruling gives the government temporary permission to continue with deportations even though court challenges are still in progress.
The decision reverses an earlier court ruling from Boston that had blocked the removal of four individuals. Now, the administration has the green light to begin revoking permits for thousands more. The ruling came without a full explanation. But two justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, disagreed with the move. In a statement, they said it could cause serious harm. They also warned that acting before a final legal decision may not be fair.
The CHNV program began in late 2022. It was designed to help people from countries with high levels of poverty and political crisis. Under the program, up to 30,000 migrants per month were allowed to enter the U.S. legally. They had to pass background checks, find sponsors, and meet other strict rules. The program was meant to create a safer, legal path for people fleeing unstable situations.
In March 2025, the Department of Homeland Security said it would cancel the protections given under CHNV. This led to legal action. A lower court judge paused the move for four migrants, but the Trump administration quickly appealed. The Supreme Court sided with the administration, giving it the power to restart deportations.
The future of these legal protections now rests with a federal appeals court. That court will decide if the government’s decision to cancel the program follows U.S. law. Until that ruling is made, hundreds of thousands of people could face removal from the country. Many of them have jobs, families, or school-age children living in the U.S.
Former President Donald Trump has made immigration a key part of his political agenda. He has promised to carry out large-scale deportations if re-elected. He also says that some courts are blocking his plans to tighten the border. The recent court victory marks a win for his current strategy, but the issue is far from over.
The people affected by the ruling now face deep uncertainty. Some have lived in the U.S. for over a year, following all the program’s rules. Advocacy groups say that ending their legal status could cause hardship. Many have built lives in the U.S. and may struggle to return to countries facing economic or political turmoil.
Officials in the Biden administration have not yet said whether they will try to restore the program through other legal steps. For now, the Supreme Court’s decision remains in place. Migrants covered by CHNV should seek legal advice and follow updates closely. The outcome of the appeals court case will be key in shaping the next phase of U.S. immigration policy.
This case highlights how sharply divided the country remains on immigration. It also shows how changes in policy can affect hundreds of thousands of people quickly. As legal battles continue, the debate over how to manage immigration in the U.S. is likely to grow even more intense.