(Updated on May 30, 2025)
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Immigrants have never been more critical to the U.S. economy. They represent 19% of the labor force and work in all industries and sectors. This economic relevance comes at a time when the Trump administration has announced policies to end some immigration programs and, consequently, work authorizations for various immigrants. In addition, other groups like Dreamers remain in limbo while the courts rule on the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows them to reside and work legally in the country.
From an economic perspective, it is important to know how many immigrants could lose their work authorization before the end of the year and how that would affect the U.S. economy. We estimate that the number could surpass 2 million. This fact sheet will provide a quick overview of the different groups facing either an imminent or potential revocation of their respective work authorizations.
Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) Parole Program
On March 25, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the revocation of humanitarian parole protections for individuals covered under the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) parole program, a policy that had provided temporary legal status and work authorization to people fleeing instability in these countries. This decision sparked widespread concern, as it threatened to leave over 530,000 CHNV parolees in the United States without lawful means of employment and vulnerable to deportation. The move was part of broader policy changes targeting immigration programs deemed by the administration as overly permissive.
However, advocacy groups and legal experts quickly mounted challenges, arguing that the termination of the program violated statutory protections and procedural requirements. On April 15, in response to a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights organizations, a Federal Court issued an injunction, effectively blocking the Trump administration from ending the CHNV parole program. The court emphasized the need for proper justification and adherence to legal standards before dismantling such a critical program, underscoring the potential humanitarian and economic consequences of its abrupt termination.
The Trump administration appealed the decision before the Supreme Court, seeking to lift the injunction and proceed with the termination of the CHNV parole programs. On May 30, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing it to pause the CHNV program temporarily.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
TPS is a government protection that allows eligible foreign-born individuals to temporarily work and live in the United States due to unsafe conditions in their countries of origin. Currently, the U.S. provides TPS protections to about 863,880 individuals from 16 countries. However, the Trump administration has ordered the termination of TPS for over 344,000 Venezuelans, 200,000 Haitians, 8,000 Afghans, and 3,200 Cameroonians. In addition, President Trump announced he is weighing whether to terminate TPS for over 50,000 Ukrainians.
Notably, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on May 19 that the Trump administration can proceed with canceling Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans while legal challenges to the decision continue in lower courts. The ruling directly affects Venezuelans granted TPS in 2023, while a separate group of roughly 250,000 Venezuelans who received protections in 2021 will retain their status until it expires in September.
Finally, it is essential to highlight that President Trump unsuccessfully worked to end TPS during his first administration. If he tries again to end TPS in his second term, around 863,880 work authorizations would be in jeopardy. Below is a list of the expiration dates of TPS designations.[1]
CBP One
Migrants who were temporarily allowed to work and live in the United States by using an online app called CBP One have been ordered to leave the country immediately. The app, initially introduced as part of an effort to streamline the asylum-seeking process and reduce border congestion, provided a legal pathway for migrants to live and work temporarily in the U.S. This decision is expected to affect more than 900,000 people who have been allowed into the country using the CBP One app since January 2023.
Uniting for Ukraine
Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) is a streamlined process that provides Ukrainian nationals who have fled Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression opportunities to come to the U.S. Currently, there are over 240,000 Ukrainians who have benefited from the program. However, President Trump has announced that he is considering ending the program.
Status of Afghan Allies
Following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, approximately 200,000 Afghan nationals relocated to the United States under various immigration pathways. These individuals arrived through a combination of humanitarian parole, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), refugee admissions, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and asylum applications. The majority of Afghan evacuees—over 76,000—entered the U.S. under humanitarian parole through Operation Allies Welcome between July 2021 and March 2022. This status provided temporary legal entry and work authorization but did not offer a direct path to permanent residency. Many parolees have since applied for asylum or SIVs to secure more stable immigration status.
In addition, in March 2022, the Biden administration designated Afghanistan for TPS, allowing eligible Afghans to live and work in the U.S. temporarily. As of September 2024, over 9,000 Afghans were enrolled in TPS. However, in May 2025, the Trump administration announced the termination of TPS for Afghanistan, citing improved conditions in the country, with the designation set to expire on July 12, 2025.
Despite these immigration avenues, a significant number of Afghan evacuees remain in legal limbo, lacking a clear path to permanent residency. Advocacy groups continue to urge Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide a streamlined process for these individuals to obtain lawful permanent status.
South Sudanese Nationals
The immigration status and work authorizations of over 2,000 South Sudanese nationals residing in the United States remain uncertain following the Trump administration’s decision to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders. This action was taken in response to South Sudan’s failure to accept the repatriation of its citizens deported from the U.S. The U.S. government cited a specific incident where South Sudan initially accepted a deportee but later refused entry upon his arrival, claiming he was not a South Sudanese national, despite prior certification by their own embassy. South Sudanese officials have criticized the blanket visa revocation as unfair, arguing it was based on a single case of mistaken identity and does not reflect the country’s overall cooperation.
DACA
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy that protects qualifying young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, temporarily shielding them from deportation and providing them work authorization with possible renewal every two years. Approximately 530,000 Dreamers are currently protected under DACA. However, in 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled against DACA, holding that the program was unlawful.
After none of the parties in the case sought an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court by the May 20 extended deadline, the case is now back before the U.S. District Court Judge, who must modify his original order to comply with the Fifth Circuit’s decision. The Fifth Circuit determined that the work authorization component of DACA is unlikely to be lawful, but narrowed the injunction to apply just to the state of Texas. The Fifth Circuit’s decision would result in DACA’s protection from deportation and work authorization being available to those renewing and those applying for the first time in 49 states, with those in Texas only having access to protection from deportation.
International Students
In recent months, the U.S. government has revoked over 1,600 student visas and terminated the SEVIS records[2] of over 4,700 international students,[3] often without prior notice or clear justification. These actions, initiated by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), respectively, have been based on vague or minor infractions, such as dismissed misdemeanor charges or non-criminal protest activities, leading to widespread uncertainty among students and universities. The abrupt terminations have resulted in immediate consequences for affected students, including loss of employment authorization, ineligibility for reentry into the U.S., and potential deportation. Legal challenges have prompted some courts to issue temporary restraining orders, restoring the SEVIS records of certain students.
However, on April 25, the Trump administration announced a new policy to terminate student visas for multiple reasons. While international students are only allowed to work on campus before they graduate, most of them are eligible to work in the United States for up to 36 months after graduation through a program called Optional Practical Training (OPT). The revocation of student visas could potentially lead to a scarcity of highly educated talent in the country.
Conclusion
The Trump administration’s actions and announcements to end various immigration programs and work authorizations for different groups of immigrants are likely to create significant challenges for the U.S. economy, with implications for labor markets, industries, and communities. By limiting pathways for immigrants to live and work in the United States, these policies might exacerbate workforce shortages, disrupt economic stability, and hinder growth in sectors heavily reliant on immigrant labor.
[1] The DHS Secretary can extend TPS after a review of country conditions. A decision concerning an extension must be made at least 60 days before the TPS designation is set to expire. The Secretary can extend the TPS designation for a six, 12 or 18-month period or decide to cancel the designation. TPS extensions only apply to those who already have TPS status. Foreign nationals who arrive after the designated start date (i.e. “required arrival date”) are only made eligible for status if TPS is newly re-designated for their country.
[2] The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is the system that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses to maintain information on international students who come to the U.S. with F-1, M-1, or J-1 visas.
[3] As of May 7, 2025.