Carlos is making the most of his final seven months in the United States, saving as much money as he can before returning to Nicaragua. It’s been nearly two years since he last saw his family, and his communication with his wife and youngest daughter has been limited to brief WhatsApp video calls, which are growing shorter as his work hours increase.
His Temporary Stay Permit, also known as humanitarian parole, is set to expire in July 2025. Once it does, Carlos says he will return to his home country as required. For now, his priority is to work and save as much as possible to either buy land in Nicaragua or start a business—“whichever comes first,” says Carlos, 30, who asked to remain anonymous.
He currently juggles three jobs, working Monday through Sunday, with shifts that stretch into day and night on weekends. All of his jobs are in warehouses, where he moves goods with forklifts or his own physical effort, cleans, organizes, and does whatever he can to log extra hours of overtime.
“I can’t go back to Nicaragua empty-handed,” he often says. The two years granted by the parole program go by quickly, and the permit cannot be extended, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
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Family Could Not Reunite in the U.S.
Although Carlos considered applying for asylum to extend his legal stay in the United States—like thousands of others who have benefited from the program—he ultimately decided against it due to the difficulty of bringing his family over.
“That process would let me stay much longer than parole allows, but I haven’t pursued it because my family is in Nicaragua, and I want to be with them. I’m not interested in staying here if I can’t be with my family,” he explains simply.
Throughout his time in the U.S., Carlos has tirelessly searched for a sponsor who could help bring his wife and daughter under the parole program, but he hasn’t had any success.
“I’ve tried everything to get them here. Without a sponsor to request them, the only other option would be for them to come illegally, but that’s far too dangerous. That’s why I don’t plan to stay here any longer,” he says.
With the recent reelection of Republican Donald Trump, who has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, Carlos believes returning home is the safest choice.
“For Nicaraguan migrants with humanitarian parole, the options to stay are very limited. Now, with Donald Trump, there’s a lot of uncertainty because he’s announced major changes to immigration laws,” Carlos notes, referring to proposals to end the Temporary Stay Permit program.
After Trump’s landslide victory over his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, on November 5th, the Republican once again vowed to fulfill his campaign promises, which largely center on curbing immigration.
“Get Ready to Leave”—Donald Trump’s Warning
In an interview with Fox News, the president-elect announced plans to shut down the CBP One mobile application, which migrants use to schedule appointments at U.S. border entry points.
“I would revoke it,” Trump declared, calling CBP One “bad” and criticizing the parole program as “even worse” because it allows beneficiaries to fly directly into the United States.
Although parole recipients have legal status to remain in the U.S. for two years, Trump claimed they are “illegal immigrants” who should not be in the country.
“Get ready to leave, especially if you’re criminals,” Trump warned during the interview, which took place shortly before his victory over Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
According to specialized studies, approximately half a million Nicaraguans have settled in the United States since the sociopolitical crisis began in 2018, with over 90,000 arriving through the parole program. Those without a regular immigration status now face the risk of deportation.
Preparations to Return Have Begun
At 56, Álvaro traveled to the United States to work and pay off his debts in Nicaragua. Paying taxes, covering his mortgage, and financing a small business have been his main goals during nearly two years of working abroad.
“My plan is to return to Nicaragua. My family, my home, and my wife are there. When I applied for the program, I knew it was only a two-year permit. So, I prepared myself mentally to use that time to contribute more significantly to my family’s finances,” he explains.
With his parole permit now nearing its expiration, his next priority is reuniting with his wife and working independently. “I don’t want to risk becoming undocumented and then face deportation proceedings,” he says.
In Nicaragua, Álvaro worked as a teacher and sports coach for decades. However, he believes finding a job at a school or company will be difficult due to his age—he will be 57 when he returns.
For this reason, his “best bet” is the small business he has been gradually investing in while paying off his debts.
“I understand Nicaragua’s economy is very fragile. I know it will be hard to start a new business different from the one I already have. That’s why I want to strengthen it, so I can achieve some stability and create a bit of sustainability for us while the economy recovers—if it ever does,” he says.