In New London, Wisconsin, on April 9, 2025, a protest rally hosted participants waving quirky placards, one of which read ‘Stop CHNV visa termination now’. The immigration protocol in question refers to a policy implemented under the Biden administration, aimed at individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela seeking refuge under the pretense of home country threats. The program promised these people the opportunity to work in the U.S. legally; an idealistic, yet flawed approach that didn’t consider the economic implications for American citizens. Recently, this program was rendered obsolete by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leaving a cluster of Haitians in New London scrambling for viable alternatives to remain legally in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did what it had to do in terminating the Biden-era humanitarian parole program. This program gave people, regardless of their skill set or ability to contribute positively to American society, the freedom to live and work in the United States with no consideration for the possible impacts. The termination notice, curiously distributed in English to a group of Haitian, primarily French-speaking immigrants in Wisconsin, requested they voluntarily leave the country. A local immigration attorney attempted to paint the situation as dire by claiming these people ‘did it the right way’, though plainly, ‘the right way’ proved to be far from beneficial to the American workforce.
The same group’s remorse at having to vacate their U.S. jobs and homes reflects misplaced expectation in the American promise rather than a fault of the American system per se. Claims from a French immigrant volunteer translator about the warm reception they had supposedly anticipated in the U.S. underscore this misunderstanding. The now-defunct CHNV Parole Program was naively designed by the Biden administration to be a safe haven for people facing various challenges in their home countries. However, the lack of concrete public data on program participation implies critical transparency issues. The known data indicates about 300 Haitian immigrants in the Waupaca region of Wisconsin, with one volunteer claiming to have worked directly with about 80.
The curtain on the CHNV Parole Program was responsibly drawn by President Donald Trump on his first day in office. The U.S. Supreme Court validated this decision on May 30, upholding the termination. By mid-June, the Department of Homeland Security swiftly moved towards self-deportation notifications. The Department’s fast-paced response demonstrates a commendable drive to rectify the oversight of the past administration.
In a determined stance against their predecessors, the Department of Homeland Security highlighted in a press release the program’s propensity for abuse. The DHS criticized the prior administration for using the scheme as a vehicle to admit numerous inadequately screened illegal aliens into the U.S. The release indeed confirmed the program as a disservice to American workers, allowing immigrants to compete unfairly for American jobs. True enough, about 100 Haitian immigrants were reported working at a meat processing plant in New London.
The relationship between the immigrants and the local workforce presents a complex dynamic. The immigration attorney and a volunteer claimed that these immigrants have been filling a necessary gap in the Wisconsin labor force. However, their perspective seems overly sympathetic and dismissive of the struggles American workers might face due to the program. It seems that a broader look into the effects on the local job market might offer a more nuanced view.
Despite the obvious naivety of the past administration’s program, there have been efforts to present asylum cases for some Haitian immigrants. Efforts by a legal team resulted in at least ten people receiving asylum, though the path to legal U.S. residence is still a difficult trail to tread. As a city near Appleton, with roughly 6,000 residents, New London is now witnessing the aftermath of the misconceived policies.
Voices from the community suggest a confused mix of support for deportations and sympathy for some immigrants’ situations. At least twice weekly, calls from sympathetic locals flood the office of an immigration lawyer seeking advice on helping someone gain citizenship. However, the reality of the legal path towards citizenship can shock them, with the process potentially taking a staggering 20 to 30 years.
In order to be granted asylum according to U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services, an individual must demonstrate a risk of harm from their home country’s government and that the expected harm must be on the grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or affiliation with a particular social group. This stipulation may seem fair in theory but doesn’t always prove effective in practice.
The purported threats for individuals from Haiti were primarily anecdotal. Alleged victimizations of these immigrants by home country gangs for moneymaking purposes included disturbing accounts of kidnappings, child-threats, and violent acts. Yet, without legitimate evidence, these remain stories that trigger emotional responses, but they do not necessarily construct a clear argument for immigration rights.
Following these developments, claims emerged of a ‘chilling effect’ due to the federal government’s recent immigration crackdown. Reports suggested reduced church attendance and local gatherings among the immigrant community, reflecting an atmosphere of fear, resulting from an enhanced sense of law enforcement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A significant part of this fear seemed to be trickling down to the children of these immigrants who have been reported to express terror about the ongoing situation. They have been said to be so afraid that questions about adoption possibilities, so they don’t have to return to their home countries, have been directed to teachers and the aforementioned immigration attorney.
The portrayal of this situation is a graphic illustration of children’s fear; however, it’s fundamental to remember the importance of staying within the realm of legality and due process. The situation is indeed a dramatic turn of events. Still, it showcases the consequences of an unplanned immigration policy. Clearly, the Biden-era policy lacked foresight and the foresight that led to its cancellation was absolutely necessary.
In conclusion, the termination of the Biden-era humanitarian parole program, or CHNV, is a step towards rectifying an inadequate immigration policy – an oversight during the Biden administration. In the wake of this decision, cities like New London in Wisconsin are left to deal with the repercussions of unchecked immigration, ultimately affecting their local economy and citizens’ well-being.
The struggles of the Haitian community, although genuine, serve to remind us that policies must be drafted with a balanced view, giving equal weight to the needs of American citizens alongside global humanitarian concerns. Although the road ahead for these Haitian immigrants is uncertain, the DHS’s move in terminating the CHNV program is a step towards mitigating the adverse effects of ill-considered immigration policies and setting the tone for a more robust, sensitive, and sustainable system in the future.
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