Rochester, N.Y. — President Donald Trump is ending a program that allowed migrants fleeing countries in crisis to come to the United States seeking a safe life. It’s called humanitarian parole. 

“Every day there seems to be a new executive order that impacts our people and this has been disheartening,” said Cheryl Drake. 

Disheartening, that’s one of the various feelings Drake has felt since the start of the year. Spectrum News 1 spoke with Drake last year about her nonprofit that helps refugees — Called to Care Canandaigua. At the time, she shared her concerns about the incoming administration, but thought Called to Care would be in the clear. 

Now Drake isn’t sure where things stand. 

“There’s been a lot of changes since Jan. 20,” said Drake. 

Called to Care works with organizations like World Relief, helping provide humanitarian parole for families coming to the U.S. from countries in crisis, like Ukraine and Haiti.

Under a recent executive order from President Trump, he instructed the Department of Homeland Security to terminate all categorical parole programs including humanitarian parole. That means Called to Care cannot help any new families seeking a safer life. 

“I can tell you many stories about how they had to flee, about how at night they had to hide under beds, so they didn’t get hit by bullets,” said Drake. 

Since it started in 2022, Called to Care has helped around 40 families start a new life in Canandaigua. Now under Trump’s executive order, they’re at risk of deportation. 

“They have all left relatives. Would they have chosen to be here under different circumstances? No, they’d rather be in Haiti or Ukraine, but this is where they had to be. This is where they’ve been led to for safety,” said Drake. 

Called to Care continues to fundraise and Drake says that money will go toward helping their families with legal help to help seek asylum. Drake isn’t sure what the next month or even week will bring, but says the biggest thing the community can do to help continue to advocate.