CBP One Migrants Lose Work Permits Overnight

Key Takeaways

• DHS revoked work permits and humanitarian parole for nearly one million CBP One migrants in April 2025.
• Affected migrants received 15-day notices requiring urgent response or face immediate deportation proceedings.
• Exceptions include those with TPS, pending asylum cases, or new legal immigration status since entry.

In April 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) started a major process that changed the lives of many people who crossed into the United States 🇺🇸 using the CBP One app since January 2023. Nearly one million migrants who once held legal status—allowing them to live and work in the country—received notices saying their work permits and special permission, called humanitarian parole, had been revoked. Now, many are scrambling to figure out their next steps, while communities and advocates try to understand what comes next.

What Happened: The Revocation of CBP One Work Permits

The Department of Homeland Security took action after the Trump administration returned to office. The shift quickly became clear: in April 2025, the DHS began sending out messages to almost a million people who had entered through the CBP One process. These messages were blunt. According to PBS NewsHour, many got emails that read, “It’s time for you to abandon the United States.” The letters explained they had to leave “immediately” or risk being forced into deportation proceedings.

This change is huge because these migrants had followed established rules. They entered with appointments through the CBP One app at US border crossings and, after arriving, got temporary legal status—meaning they could legally stay in the United States for up to two years. They also received work permits, which let them hold jobs and support themselves and their families.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, this sudden reversal not only causes stress and fear for the migrants, but also shakes up businesses, schools, and communities that have come to depend on these new residents as workers, students, and neighbors.

Who Is Affected by the Work Permit Revocations?

The actual number of people affected is staggering: about 985,000 individuals, according to data from the Immigration Forum. Most of these migrants come from several countries facing violence, hardship, or natural disasters. These countries include Honduras 🇭🇳, El Salvador 🇸🇻, Mexico 🇲🇽, Cuba 🇨🇺, Haiti 🇭🇹, Nicaragua 🇳🇮, and Venezuela 🇻🇪.

Before this change, people who got parole through the CBP One program enjoyed:

• Temporary permission to live in the United States
• Work authorization (work permits that let them earn income legally)
• Protection from being sent back (deported) while their parole lasted

After the new announcement, these protections are being taken away for most, and many now face the real risk of having to leave jobs, schools, or even their homes. For employers who depend on these workers, the loss could mean difficulty filling jobs and delays in work. For families, it means uncertainty and worry about what the future holds.

The Process: Notices, Timelines, and What People Can Do

According to information published by English El País, the Department of Homeland Security delivered official “Notice of Intent to Revoke Employment Authorization” letters to those in the CBP One program. Here’s how the process works:

1. Notice: Each individual receives formal notice saying their legal status and work permit could be revoked.
2. 15-Day Response Window: Each person then has 15 days from the date of the notice to send DHS documents that explain why they should keep their work permit. This could include proof they now have a different legal status, such as asylum or another type of visa.
3. Warning: The letter warns them that once their parole ends or is ended by DHS, their permission to live and work in the country disappears. If they have not gotten another type of legal status, staying becomes illegal.
4. Fast-Approaching Deadline: For many, the notice arrives just weeks before their work permit is set to expire, leaving little time to act.

People in this situation are being told that unless they can show they have another legal way to stay in the United States 🇺🇸, they must leave right away or face deportation hearings. This warning has left many worried and unsure about their options.

You can find out more about work authorization rules and notices by visiting the official USCIS Employment Authorization page.

Who Is Not Affected: Important Exceptions

While most people who entered under CBP One are losing their work permits and parole status, there are some key exceptions:

• Those who have since qualified for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS is a special program that lets people from certain countries remain in the United States because of disasters or severe problems back home.
• People with outstanding immigration court cases or active asylum applications. If someone’s case is still being considered, they may keep their work permit until there is a final decision.
• Migrants helped by other programs: For example, parolees under the Uniting for Ukraine program (for Ukrainians affected by war) and Operation Allies Welcome (for Afghans who worked with the US military) are not included in this mass revocation.
• Individuals who have managed to get another legal immigration status since arriving.

If you are affected, or think you might be, it is strongly recommended to seek legal help as soon as possible. Every case can be different, and there may be a path for some people to stay, depending on their situation.

Legal Cases and Pushback

Many immigration lawyers and advocates have criticized the Trump administration’s decision, saying it targets those who followed the rules and were given legal status through proper channels. They also point out that lawsuits have already started. Some are challenging the Department of Homeland Security action in court, arguing that changing the rules after the fact is unfair.

For now, though, unless a court stops the process, affected migrants must follow the directions in their letters or risk being scheduled for removal from the United States.

Broader Changes: How This Fits into the Administration’s Immigration Plans

The current changes to the CBP One program are part of a bigger shift in immigration policy under the Trump administration. Several major things happened right after Inauguration Day:

• The CBP One app was shut down for new migrants on the first day, leaving thousands in Mexico who had already booked appointments in limbo. Instead, the app is now called “CBP Home,” and it’s being used to help people set up their own departures rather than gain entry.
• The administration is revoking parole not just through CBP One, but also for 532,000 people from Cuba 🇨🇺, Haiti 🇭🇹, Nicaragua 🇳🇮, and Venezuela 🇻🇪 who entered under a separate humanitarian parole policy.
• The Department of Homeland Security tried to end Temporary Protected Status for about 600,000 Venezuelans 🇻🇪 and 500,000 Haitians 🇭🇹. However, a federal judge has temporarily stopped this move, meaning many people under TPS can stay, at least for now.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, these steps are about “canceling paroles” to “keep a promise to the American people to secure our borders and protect national security.” Critics, though, say it unfairly punishes people who did everything right—using the legal pathways offered by the government and following all instructions.

What Is the CBP One Program?

CBP One is a mobile app developed by the US government to help immigrants schedule appointments at border crossings. Starting in January 2023, certain people from Central and South America could use the app to enter the United States in a safer, more organized way.

After checking in through CBP One at the border, people could receive something called humanitarian parole. This allowed them to live and work in the United States temporarily while getting things like medical care, legal help, or time to apply for asylum. Many families, including parents with children, used this system to escape danger or hardship in their home countries.

Now, this pathway is closed to new arrivals, and the app’s original purpose has been changed.

Impact on Everyday Life and Communities

This sudden turn impacts many parts of American life:

1. Migrant families: Many people who built lives, got jobs, enrolled kids in school, or set up long-term homes are now forced to plan for an uncertain future.
2. Employers: Restaurants, farms, factories, hospitals, and many other businesses relied on workers who came through the CBP One program. Losing nearly one million workers could cause big shortages in some areas.
3. Local communities: Schools, places of worship, and community centers are bracing for the possible loss of students, volunteers, and neighbors.
4. Legal and social service providers: Groups that help immigrants are working overtime to answer questions and guide people through their options.

Advocates say the impact is especially hard for those who have worked hard to follow every step the US government laid out, building lives only to be told to leave with little warning.

What to Do if You Are Affected

If you or someone you know is affected by the revocation of work permits and parole status under the CBP One program, here are important steps to take:

• Open and read all mail and emails from the Department of Homeland Security and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) right away.
• Pay close attention to deadlines in your notice, especially the 15-day window to respond.
• Gather and keep records that might help your case, such as proof of income, letters from employers, school records, or health concerns.
• Get legal advice. There are many legal service providers and nonprofit organizations that may be able to help. Each person’s situation is unique, and there may be a way to stay in the United States based on your case.
• Consider other immigration options, like applying for asylum, family-based visas, or if you qualify, Temporary Protected Status.

You can find more guidance on these steps from official DHS resources, which provide up-to-date information and directions for migrants and families.

Looking Ahead: The Road Forward for CBP One Beneficiaries

As this policy shift unfolds, there are many open questions. The courts may end up deciding whether some or all of these revocations stand, since lawsuits are pending. In the meantime, close to a million people face hard choices about leaving the country they hoped would give them a new start.

The sudden end to the CBP One program for new arrivals and the removal of work permits has also raised new worries for those still waiting in Mexico 🇲🇽 and other countries, wondering if their chance at safety in the United States is now gone.

For the Department of Homeland Security, the move is seen as fulfilling goals of border protection and national security. For affected individuals and their supporters, it feels like the rug has been pulled out from under them after they followed all the rules laid out by the very same government.

Summary: Key Takeaways

• Nearly one million people who entered the United States legally using the CBP One app since January 2023 are now losing their work permits and legal status.
• The Department of Homeland Security is giving just 15 days for people to respond and show they should keep their permits, otherwise, they must leave the country.
• Some exceptions exist, especially for those who now have other legal statuses like Temporary Protected Status or pending asylum applications.
• This move is part of wider, tougher changes to US immigration policy under the Trump administration.
• The change affects families, employers, and whole communities, many of whom will face difficult choices and uncertain futures.

If you’re affected, the best step is to seek immediate legal advice and check for updated government information. The official CBP One page provides details about the app’s status and functions.

As the policy and legal battles continue, thousands wait to see what comes next for CBP One beneficiaries and for the future of US humanitarian parole.

Learn Today

Humanitarian Parole → Temporary permission for individuals to enter or stay in the United States due to urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
CBP One App → A government mobile application used to schedule appointments for migrants at U.S. border crossings, streamlining legal entry processes.
Work Permit → An official document (employment authorization) that allows migrants to work legally while present in the United States.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) → Granted to nationals from countries experiencing crises, TPS allows them to live and work legally in the U.S. for a limited period.
Notice of Intent to Revoke → An official letter informing recipients of the government’s plan to cancel previously granted immigration benefits, requiring a timely response.

This Article in a Nutshell

Nearly one million migrants who entered the U.S. legally through CBP One now face revoked work permits and legal status following a Trump administration shift. DHS gave just 15 days to respond to notices. Community leaders urge seeking immediate legal help, as exceptions exist for TPS and pending asylum applications only.
— By VisaVerge.com