In an unusual move, U.S. immigration authorities recently sent a mass email warning individuals under specific immigration protections to leave the country immediately, igniting confusion when some U.S. citizens inadvertently received the notice.
The email, titled ‘Notice of Termination of Parole,’ bluntly stated, ‘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.’
Additionally, the email specified that any benefits tied to the recipients’ parole status, such as work authorization, would also be terminated.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intended the message for millions residing in the U.S. who fled from countries plagued by unrest, including Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua.
However, in the aftermath of the email distribution, reports emerged that American citizens in states like Massachusetts, Arizona, and Connecticut had also received these notices.
Nicole Micheroni, a Boston immigration lawyer and U.S.-born citizen, expressed her incredulity after receiving the message, initially mistaking it for a notice intended for a client.
‘At first, I thought it was for a client, and then I kind of laughed about it a little bit, and then I was a little concerned,’ she shared, reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster triggered by the notification.
A senior official at DHS acknowledged the issue, stating that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was monitoring communications and would address any concerns individually.
The official explained, ‘If a non-personal email — such as an American citizen contact — was provided by the alien, notices may have been sent to unintended recipients.’
Despite the confusion, immigration experts assured U.S. citizens receiving the email that they should not fear deportation.
Micheroni clarified that the notice was specifically meant for individuals admitted to the U.S. on parole and that U.S. citizens would not be legally considered in this category.
‘If you’re a U.S. citizen, you shouldn’t be entering the United States on parole,’ she said.
Nevertheless, experts cautioned that citizens should stay vigilant and prepare for any encounters with immigration officials questioning their citizenship status.
Kristen Harris, an immigration attorney based in Chicago, recommended that American citizens receiving such notices seek legal counsel.
‘There is certainly no legal effect under current statute or regulation for a citizen to be
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