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Immigration authorities in the United States have issued a stark advisory to individuals residing in the nation under temporary protected status (TPS), sending an unprecedented mass email stating, “It is time for you to leave the United States.”
“Notice of Termination of Parole” Email Sparks Confusion
The email, titled “Notice of Termination of Parole,” explicitly warned recipients: “If you do not depart the United States immediately, you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States — unless you have otherwise obtained a lawful basis to remain here.” It further stated that “any benefits you receive in the United States connected with your parole — such as work authorization — will also terminate.”
“Do not attempt to remain in the United States — the federal government will find you,” the assertive email concluded. A copy of this communication was reviewed by news sources.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) email was reportedly intended for approximately 14 million individuals in the U.S. who had sought refuge from unrest in nations including Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua.
U.S. Citizens Mistakenly Receive Warning
However, subsequent to the email distribution, reports emerged highlighting that U.S. citizens in states such as Massachusetts, Arizona, and Connecticut had also received the notices.
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Nicole Micheroni, a Boston-based immigration attorney and a U.S.-born citizen, confirmed receiving the notification.
“Initially, I assumed it was intended for a client,” she stated. “Then, I found it somewhat amusing, followed by a degree of apprehension. A spectrum of emotions arose rather swiftly.”
A senior DHS official issued a statement indicating that Customs and Border Protection was “monitoring communications and will address any issues on a case-by-case basis.”
“If a non-personal email — such as an American citizen contact — was provided by the alien, notices may have been sent to unintended recipients,” the official elaborated.
Experts Downplay Deportation Risk for Citizens, Advise Caution
Micheroni, alongside other immigration experts, concurred that U.S. citizens receiving the email should not be genuinely concerned about facing deportation.
“This email was specifically targeted at individuals who entered the United States on parole, which signifies that the United States permitted entry without a visa or another basis for being here,” Micheroni clarified. “Therefore, U.S. citizens should not be entering the United States on parole.”
Nonetheless, specialists recommend that U.S. citizens take protective measures in the unlikely event of being questioned by immigration authorities regarding their citizenship.
Kristen Harris, a Chicago-based immigration lawyer, advised U.S. citizens who received the notice to promptly seek guidance from an immigration attorney.
“Under current law, there is no legal basis for a citizen to have ‘parole terminated,’ especially since a U.S. citizen would never have been paroled,” she stated. “However, given the current administration’s potentially fluctuating interpretation of existing law, consulting with private immigration counsel would be prudent.”
Concerns Over Broader Immigration Enforcement Actions
Recent weeks have seen an intensification of efforts by the previous administration and immigration authorities to deport noncitizens.
Last month, the administration acted against a judge’s order by transferring hundreds of individuals to a high-security prison in El Salvador, alleging they were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Relatives of these individuals have strongly contested their alleged gang affiliation.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran immigrant residing in Maryland under a court-issued protective order, was among those sent to the prison in what federal officials termed an “administrative error.” The administration has repeatedly disregarded a court order to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.
The previous administration has also considered the possibility of deporting U.S. citizens convicted of specific offenses.
Recommended Protective Measures for U.S. Citizens
Harris and Micheroni suggest that U.S. citizens who received the notice assemble documentation, such as birth certificates and U.S. passports, to substantiate their citizenship in case of encounters with immigration authorities.
“I am not intending to cause alarm, but if you inadvertently find yourself on such a list, it is sensible to ensure you have essential documentation readily accessible,” Micheroni advised.
Potential for Errors and Broader Consequences
The attorneys also voiced apprehension that U.S. citizens could unintentionally be categorized with noncitizens in other contexts.
The New York Times recently reported on the previous administration’s initiative to revoke Social Security numbers of deported migrants by adding them to a deceased persons list, effectively preventing them from financial transactions.
Micheroni confirmed accessing her online Social Security account recently and verifying its active status.
“This specific email is hopefully unrelated to the Social Security Administration’s potential cancellation of Social Security numbers, given its widespread distribution,” she noted. “However, it is concerning, and broader systemic errors or accidental misclassifications can have severe repercussions.”
Expert Suggests Ignoring Erroneous Notices
Conversely, not all experts recommend taking action based on the email.
Jonathan A. Grode, an immigration lawyer in Philadelphia, suggested U.S. citizens should largely disregard the notices if received. Grode himself received the email recently and paid it no attention.
“I am aware of my U.S. citizenship and lack of parole status. I am taking no action,” he stated. “I chuckled briefly and deleted it.”
He posited that the government was likely aware of the inclusion of American citizens on the email list but chose not to rectify the issue.
“This government operates with broad strokes, not precision,” he commented. “Personally, I believe the United States should function as a mature and effective nation, where actions are undertaken with thoughtfulness, pragmatism, and care. This administration’s approach differs.”
“They aim to be transformative agents, and their methodology is characterized by magnitude, boldness, and aggression,” he concluded.