Many Cubans are left without work permits in the United States after massive revocation of employment authorizations

The United States revokes work permits for Cubans who entered through CBP One: thousands at risk of losing their jobs.

Thousands of Cubans who entered the United States legally through the CBP One program have begun receiving notifications of revocation of their work permits. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent the first notices this week through the user profile on its website. The message states that the agency issued a notice explaining its intention to revoke the previous approval of the case.

Those affected, many of them beneficiaries of humanitarian parole through CBP One, have only 15 days to prove they still have a valid temporary residence permit. Failure to do so will result in their automatic loss of work authorization.

The situation leaves thousands of Cubans at imminent risk of losing their jobs, income, and legal employment while they await the processing of their immigration paperwork.

The measure comes as no surprise to many. On April 18, the Department of Homeland Security began notifying numerous migrants that their Form I-94—the document certifying their temporary permission to enter the country—had been canceled. This action already anticipated the withdrawal of their derivative work permit.

These are not isolated cases.

One of the affected Cubans, identified as Marcos and a resident of Tampa, told the independent media outlet 14ymedio:

“I was hoping until the last minute that they wouldn't cancel my work permit.”

Marcos explained that he entered the United States in January 2023 and applied for permanent residency last December. Now the risk of losing his job has him on edge:

"Although I've already applied for a work permit along with my residency, those permits are taking a long time (…) If my company finds out the work permit they hired me with was canceled, they'll fire me tomorrow. All I'm thinking about is how to pay the rent and my monthly bills, because jobs aren't easy here in Florida," he said.

Another Cuban, Yoandry, also a resident of Tampa, told the aforementioned media:

“There are many obstacles to working without papers here in Florida. Something always pops up, but it's unstable. For now, I have to wait a year and a day to apply for residency, but until then, if I don't find a job on the side, I don't know how I'll live. Rent alone costs me $1.000.”

Trump orders CBP One beneficiaries to leave the country

The CBP One program was launched in January 2023 under the Biden administration as a tool to regulate legal entry through border ports and prevent irregular crossings. In two years, more than 930.000 people have used the app, at least 110.970 of whom were Cubans, according to official data. In December 2024 alone, the latest month with available figures, some 44.000 migrants entered through this route.

However, after Donald Trump's election victory, the program began to crumble. In early April, the new administration sent emails to numerous beneficiaries demanding they leave the country immediately. The blunt message read:

“It’s time for you to leave the United States.”

The communication explained that the entry permit was time-limited and cited Section 1182 of the United States Code and Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations as the legal basis. According to the notice, the Department of Homeland Security will exercise its right to revoke the permit without further warning and warned that it has the means to track down those who choose to ignore the order.

Cubans trapped in a legal and economic crisis

For many Cuban migrants, this situation is a nightmare. Without legal employment, without valid papers, and with paperwork that can take months, their stay in the United States becomes extremely fragile.

Most had parole and work permits to support themselves financially while applying for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act. Now, the revocation of these documents not only complicates their immigration status but also threatens their daily livelihoods, the payment of rent and debts, and family stability.

While authorities have not clarified whether there will be any protection or alternative options for those who have already initiated legal proceedings, thousands of Cubans live in real fear of dismissal or detention for not having a valid permit. The uncertainty is total.