On March 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminated the categorical parole programs for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela and their immediate family members. Due to the termination of these CHNV parole programs, all individuals who entered the U.S. under these programs had their parole status revoked effective April 24, 2025, unless they obtained another lawful status.

While citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela and their immediate family members who have been paroled to the U.S. for at least one year are qualified aliens under 8 U.S.C. 1641, these individuals are not among the exceptions to the five-year provisions in 8 U.S.C. 1613(b). Therefore, these individuals are not eligible to receive any Federal means-tested public benefit, including Child Care, Food Assistance, and TANF, for a period of five years beginning on the date of the individual’s entry into the U.S. with a status within the meaning of the term "qualified alien".

Individuals from Cuba and Haiti who are classified as Cuban-Haitian Entrants and were also paroled under the CHNV parole program remain eligible to receive Child Care, Food Assistance, and TANF benefits due to their Cuban-Haitian Entrant classification as defined in Section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act, 8 U.S.C. 1522 note.

In accordance with the law, and effective immediately, individuals and any immediate family members paroled under a CHNV program are no longer eligible to receive benefits at initial certification or recertification unless the individual is in another qualifying status.

• Households do not have to report a change in their immigration status until recertification, and are not subject to overpayments for the benefits received after their parole status expired or was terminated.
  
  
• If an individual was initially eligible for food assistance under section code VHP, HHP, CHP, or NHP, that individual’s immigration status must be reviewed through SAVE at recertification to determine continued eligibility.
  
  
• If an individual’s CHNV parole status is expired or was terminated, and the individual does not have a new, qualifying immigration status, the individual is an ineligible non-citizen and deemed an excluded household member per KEESM 4212.2 (3). KEES will not exclude this population correctly, so these cases must be sent to KEES helpdesk to be corrected prior to running EDBC.
  
  
• If an individual’s initial CHNV parole status is expired, and the individual has a new, qualifying immigration status, add a new record to the non-citizenship page in KEES with the correct status.
  

See resources below for more information:

Non-Citizenship Flow Chart in Training-by-Topic (available to staff only)
(KEESM 2143.2 and 2142.2)