Trump administration advises 500,000 migrants to self-deport

On Thursday, individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela began receiving official notifications that their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been terminated, and they are now being urged to leave the United States voluntarily.

According to CBS News, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent emails to inform over 500,000 people that the humanitarian parole and work permits previously granted under the Biden administration have been rescinded with immediate effect. Those without other legal immigration status are being encouraged to self-deport.

This development follows a May 30 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld the Trump-era decision to revoke TPS for these groups—a program the Biden administration had used since 2022 to temporarily shield individuals from deportation while their immigration cases were pending.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem began the notification process Thursday, informing the affected individuals of the change and advising them to return to their countries of origin.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the previous use of the TPS and parole system, calling it a misuse of authority that allowed hundreds of thousands of inadequately vetted migrants to enter the U.S.

"The Biden administration deceived the American people," McLaughlin said in a press release. She argued the administration's policies allowed these migrants and their families to unfairly compete with American workers and placed strain on federal employees who were required to manage the program despite fraud concerns.

McLaughlin also said the administration deflected blame onto Congressional Republicans for the resulting rise in disorder and crime.

To assist with departure, DHS stated that affected individuals could use the CBP One mobile app to access travel assistance and may qualify for a $1,000 relocation incentive upon return to their home countries.

The deportation notifications coincided with the House of Representatives passing a bill to overturn Washington, D.C.'s Sanctuary Values Amendment Act. 

The measure, which passed with bipartisan support (224-194), mandates that the district comply with federal immigration enforcement, including honoring detainer requests and sharing immigration status information.