Riiti ilo Majōl: JBS im Tyson ilo Ottumwa eṃōj aer luuji elōñ ri-jerbal ro bwe ejako aer pepa im mālim in jerbal kōn kakien eo ekāāl
In January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order ending the CHNV humanitarian parole program, which had allowed over 530,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to live and work legally in the United States. Created under the Biden administration, the CHNV program provided a safe and legal alternative to irregular border crossings. Participants were sponsored by U.S. residents, passed background checks, and were expected to apply for asylum or another immigration status during their two-year stay.
According to a 2024 survey, people coming to the U.S. through the CHNV program spread out across the country with help from American sponsors. Most were able to support themselves by working and relying on family support without much assistance from welcoming cities and states. Around 240,000 CHNV parolees have been working in the U.S., contributing to key industries.
On March 25, the administration formalized the program’s termination through a notice in the Federal Register, effective April 24, 2025. The government also canceled all pending sponsor applications, revoked travel authorizations, and announced plans to remove parolees who did not have lawful status.
The impact of this policy shift is already being felt in places like Ottumwa, Iowa. JBS, a major pork processing company employing over 2,000 people in Ottumwa, recently issued 200 termination notices to workers from Haiti, Cuba, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Tyson Foods has taken similar steps across the state. Although these workers may be rehired if they can secure another form of work authorization, many are left scrambling with no clear path forward.
Ottumwa, a small city of 25,000, is the center of economic activity in rural southeastern Iowa. The sudden loss of 10% of JBS’s workforce is a blow not only to the affected families but to the entire local economy. The local school district has also been impacted. Due to frozen federal funding for migrant students, a preschool summer program had to be canceled. These programs typically serve the children of workers in food production who moved recently or seasonally for work. School staff also report growing fear and uncertainty among immigrant families.
In interviews with school officials, staff expressed concern for their students and families. The school employs bilingual associates, language associates and diversity advocates who foster a culture of multilingualism, provide interpretation, and support communication between families, school, and workplaces. Teachers are even able to meet with parents during their shifts via video conference. One district representative said what’s creating the most fear is the uncertainty: “You could be here legally, and things could still go wrong.”
While JBS has reportedly offered $1,000 to support workers’ self-deportation, union representatives dispute this and argue the company is not doing enough. Brian Ulin, a spokesperson for the United Food and Commercial Workers union, emphasized the role of these workers during the pandemic: “They proudly and willingly went into those plants during COVID… and now we kick them out. That’s not right.” Many of these workers endured higher rates and earlier exposure to covid due to their work in meat packing plants. He also warned of the broad impact on the city: We’re not just talking about 200 workers but their children, spouses and other family in school and other jobs –“that kind of impact on the community is noticeable.”
Ottumwa’s Republican Mayor Johnson echoed those concerns, saying: “These are our neighbors. They work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to our city. We hope for a solution that keeps families together and our community strong.” He added that many affected families have cars and houses but now are uncertain about their future. A member of the school district emphasized that many workers and their families don’t have a place to go back to–their homes are in Ottumwa.
As communities like Ottumwa reel from the effects of these sweeping policy changes, local leaders are calling for clarity, compassion, and common-sense solutions to keep families intact and local economies strong.
Read more: Hundreds of Iowa Meatpacking Workers Face Visa Revocations
