Rockland and Orange immigrants receive federal orders to self-deport; judge temporarily blocks deportations

Some local immigrants from Haiti, Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela — who came to the United States under a special humanitarian residency program offered by then-President Joe Biden — are all being ordered to self-deport because the program has been terminated.

Ben Nandy

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Apr 18, 2025, 10:17 PM

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Updated 3 days ago

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Renacheka Paul, 29, is figuring out her next move after receiving a letter from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security telling her she must leave the country.

Some local immigrants from Haiti, Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela — who came to the United States under a special humanitarian residency program offered by then-President Joe Biden — are all being ordered to self-deport because the program has been terminated.

"By operation of this notice, your unexpired parole-based employment authorization will be revoked as of April 24, 2025," the letter read.

"I had to show it to my sister because I was shocked. It was scary," Paul said when asked about the day she received the letter in her mailbox on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

"I started to cry. I cried a lot," said Paul who came to New Windsor from her home near Port-Au-Prince, Haiti to "save my life."

She explained how she was forced out of her home by gangs who have been fighting for control of the capital city, leaving her and other family to sleep on the streets.

When asked whether her life would be in danger if she ultimately were forced to return to Haiti, Paul paused and teared up.

"I don't know," she said. "I just don't know."

State lawmakers said more than 40 students at East Ramapo High School also received the notices to self-deport.

A federal judge has blocked DHS's immediate revocation of the immigrants' residency, which means they can now remain in the U.S. until the end of their two-year terms.

Democratic state lawmakers said at a press conference Friday in Spring Valley they do not trust President Donald Trump's administration to obey the court's decision.

They are asking their constituents to contact their representatives in Washington, DC to ask them to publicly oppose deportations of immigrants who were granted residency through the Biden-era humanitarian program.

"What we need is a real solution," Assemblyman Chris Eachus said, "a permanent humane pathway [to citizenship] to remain in this country for people who follow the laws."

Paul has been working full time, and plans to study pharmacy in college.

Now, though, she is dreading the possibility of having to say goodbye to her sister, niece and nephew, hoping her local officials can help her stay.

"I'm going to pray for them," Paul said with a chuckle, "because they're going to help them (other immigrants) and help me."

Immigrant rights advocates at Friday's press conference said they are helping the affected immigrants apply for residency through other programs.

They are also pushing legislation to allocate more than $100 million in state funds for legal defenses.

News 12 has reached out to DHS for further comment, and to Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents this area.

Neither have responded.

Former-President Biden established the humanitarian residency program for Venezuelans in 2022 to lessen illegal border crossings.

A year later, his administration opened the program to people from Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba.

State lawmakers said at the press conference they also heard from one Ukrainian immigrant who came to the U.S. via a similar program and was ordered to self-deport.