Those in the US on temporary legal status received an email this week from the US Department of Homeland Security alerting them to the revocation of their “parole” and ordering them to depart the country “immediately,” WIRED reports. However, at least two US citizens, both Massachusetts immigration lawyers, were also recipients of the email. Furthermore, it’s still unclear who needs to follow the directions in the email or why the apparent revocation of legal immigration status was sent by email in the first place.
“DHS is now exercising its discretion to terminate your parole,” the email notifies, adding that the order takes effect “7 days from the date of this notice.” Users of CBP One, an app created under the Biden administration to enable noncitizens from specific countries to make appointments in an attempt to request asylum, seem to have gotten emails that are similar, if not identical, to the one in question.
According to Hilton Beckham, CBP associate commissioner for public affairs, “CBP has issued notices terminating parole for individuals who do not have lawful status to remain.” He added, “Those on parole under programs like U4U and OAW are not currently subject to this process, nor is it restricted to CBP One users.”
Who is to Deport Themselves?
Nicole Micheroni, a partner at Cameron Micheroni & Silvia, posted on Bluesky on Friday night, saying, “Some personal news: the Department of Homeland Security has given me, an immigration lawyer born in Newton, Massachusetts, seven days to leave the US. Does anyone know if you can get Italian citizenship through their great-grandparents?”
Some personal news: the Department of Homeland Security has given me, an immigration lawyer born in Newton, Massachusetts, seven days to leave the U.S. Does anyone know if you can get Italian citizenship through great-grandparents?
— Nicole Micheroni (@nicolemicheroni.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Micheroni tells WIRED that she realised the email was solely for herself after Beckham’s confirmation, even though she initially believed it was meant for one of her clients.
As Micheroni puts it, “It’s concerning that they’re sending these out with this level of care.” Since it’s usual for immigrants in the US to designate their lawyers as the point of contact, it’s likely that the DHS email was intended for one of her clients or somebody else.
Many immigrants, especially those without access to proper legal counsel, are likely feeling scared and confused by the uncertainty surrounding whether the revocation applies to the recipient, attorney Lauren Regan, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Civil Liberties Defence Centre, tells WIRED.
Regan claims that the fact that “so many people don’t have a lawyer, or their lawyer has 6,000 clients” overloads those who frequently offer pro bono legal services to immigrants. Additionally, a large number of immigrants lack email accounts, which means they were unable to receive the notification in the first place.
Another Mass. immigration attorney, Carmen Bello, has also reported having received the same email shortly after Micheroni.
Citizen Deportation Plans in Progress
It is a possibility that citizens are not safe either; Donald Trump informed reporters on Monday that he is investigating the idea of transferring US nationals to an El Salvadorian megaprison in an effort to increase the number of his already brutal and disorderly mass deportations.
During a press conference with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Monday, Trump asserted, “I’d like to go a step further.” He emphasized that many criminals are nationals and behave like “monsters”.
At the White House meeting on Monday, Trump claimed that Attorney General Pam Bondi is “studying the law.”
NBC News contacted several law experts in connection to the matter.
“It is pretty obviously illegal and unconstitutional,” stated Ilya Somin, a professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. Others added that U.S. citizens are simply exempt from immigration laws that grant the government the power to deport individuals, especially to foreign authorities.