LAWSON, Mo. — As of last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security made the decision to end certain parole programs for ‘aliens’ from specific nations, including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

This decision impacts a particular parole program that granted Missouri resident Wendy (Wendsy) Desrivieres two years, beginning in April 2024, but will now conclude a year earlier, expiring in one month.

affiliate WDAF met with the Morris family, who run VCU Church in Ray County, Missouri.

Pastor Ralph Morris expressed understanding of the concerns surrounding illegal entry into the U.S., but emphasized that his son is legally present. However, a document the family provided to WDAF indicates he has only one month to depart the United States.

Born and raised in Haiti, Desrivieres left because of the crime.

“We are not safe by the gangs,” Wendsy Desrivieres shared.

Desrivieres met the Morris Family more than 10 years ago. Soon after, the Morris family began sponsoring him.

“They replaced my family, my mom and dad. I lost my mom when I was 11. I lost my dad when I was 8,” Desrivieres said. “I don’t know what can I say to let them know how much I love them.”

He’s been in the United States since April of 2024, under the impression of at least a two-year stay.

Desrivieres says as he’s using his faith to help navigate what’s next.

“I follow Him,” he said. “This is the only thing I can do.”

“It’s not just Wendsy,” Morris said. “There are 530,000 people that have received this notification. They have to be gone. They have to leave our country within the next 30 days.”

Morris has been with the church for 34 years. He’s also a board member for a mission group that’s established a number of programs.

“[We’ve] established seven churches, four schools, enrollment of about 2,000 children,” Morris said. “We have a feeding program. We also meet all the Haitian criteria for being a school.”

Morris said it was through that program that he met Desrivieres and his younger brother.

“He needed the support, and Diana and I chose to support him,” Morris said. “We don’t understand what we’ve done wrong.”

The Morris’ allege they have done everything the right way, and they don’t know why they’re facing this now.

“Do we welcome immigrants in, if they come legally, and are pursing the citizenship process? Is that true or is that not?” Morris asked. “Because we have done everything legally; we used a government-sanctioned program, the Refugee Parole Program, to bring him to the United States,

Morris said the only way to bring him to the United States was through the Refugee Parole Program. Morris said that’s because the U.S. Embassy in Haiti was closed on Aug. 8, 2023, so he couldn’t get a visa.

“He has appeared twice within the Immigration Service,” he said. “He’s been interviewed. He’s been fingerprinted. He has a permanent residence. They know where he is. They know what he is doing.”

He said Desrivieres has a Social Security card and is employed full-time.

But on Friday, the letter came – stating that his son must leave the country by April 24.

“We’ve had people write letters, notarize them. We have affidavits, people verifying his character. We just want somebody to listen—somebody to hear us and answer some questions,” Morris said. “In my mind, I’m thinking, we’ve got everything processed…why is he getting a letter of deportation?”

Morris said a green card has been applied for but there hasn’t been much correspondence regarding it.

The Morris family is hoping he’s not sent back to Haiti.

“If he is returned to Haiti on April 24, when he walks off that plane, he is immediately homeless, because he has already surrendered his apartment,” Morris said. “He has given up his transportation, his motorcycle that he owned. He has no job [in Haiti], no source of income whatsoever. We’ve been given 30 days to do this; it’s just not enough time, and we don’t understand what we’ve done wrong.”

The Homeland Security document, obtained by WDAF, says in part, “If you have not obtained a lawful basis to remain in the United States and do not depart the United States by the date your parole terminates, you will begin to accrue unlawful presence in the United States unless you are otherwise protected from such accrual.”

In Desrivieres’ situation, his document states “…Your parole will terminate upon the earlier of (1) your original parole expiration date or (2) April 24, 2025. You should depart the United States now, but no later than the date of the termination of your parole.”

Ogletree Deakins is an employment law firm. You can read more from Ogletree Deakins about the Parole Program’s background and its termination here.

According to Ogletree Deakins, “The Trump administration has decided to end these programs, citing a lack of significant public benefit and inconsistency with foreign policy goals.”

The law firm also states a lawsuit challenging the termination of CHNV (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela) parole has been filed.