A comic about humanitarian parole
An illustration of the complexities of the US border and humanitarian migration policies
El cómic está disponible en español en el sitio web de Boom aquí.
This special edition of the Americas Migration Brief is a collaboration with artist-researcher Fernando Garlin Politis and published in parallel at Boom, a platform for journalism and ideas for Latin America.
The comic highlights the complexities of the US border and humanitarian migration policies, explaining how the CHNV humanitarian parole policy is a great success that has granted protection to many, but also faces limitations in accessibility for the most vulnerable. The CHNV parole program celebrated its 2-year anniversary for Venezuelans on October 12; and for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans it will do so on January 5, 2025.
As disinformation and stereotypes grow, attacking the very nationalities that benefit from CHNV, it is more crucial than ever to ensure safe, regular, and orderly channels such as this. Earlier this summer, the program was temporarily paused over allegations of fraud among sponsors—not migrants—but the Biden administration has since moved to resume the program and maintain this vital legal pathway.
CHNV also faces threats of closure should former president Donald Trump win the US presidential election next month, and some beneficiaries may still find themselves in legal limbo in the months to come after the Biden administration recently announced that they would not have their status renewed after they complete their two-year stay in the country via the program. Certain beneficiaries—most notably Venezuelans that have access to TPS because they arrived before July 31, 2023; Haitians that have access to TPS because they arrived before June 4, 2024; and Cubans that can access lawful permanent resident status via the Cuban Adjustment Act—are able to find some level of protection beyond the scope of the CHNV program. However, between the upcoming election and questions about access to durable legal status for all beneficiaries, the long-term stability and impact of the program currently hangs in the balance. Should Trump win the election, the program will surely meet its demise. If vice president Kamala Harris wins, the program will continue; the question is, in what way?
Amid this context, the comic illustrates the obstacles encountered by migrants attempting to access protection through the CHNV humanitarian parole program, outlining a potential path forward as the program restarts. As such, the recent decision by the Biden administration to recognize Venezuelan passports expired for up to 10 years (see AMB 7/22/24) is a welcome step towards expanding accessibility.
Check out the comic here or at the link below: