The Biden-Harris administration has announced it will not extend parole for hundreds of thousands of noncitizens enrolled in the hotly debated immigrant flight program, but border hawks say the harsh declaration will exclude them from the nation. It is said that the possibility of this happening is low. country.
Immigrants who entered the United States on two-year parole through the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) program will not have their status renewed when the program ends, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tells Daily Caller News Foundation confirmed. . DHS warned in a statement that those who cannot find other immigration arrangements or leave the country of their own accord are at risk of deportation. (Related: Mayorkas asked about Afghan arrested on suspicion of planning election day terrorist attack)
“Persons who do not have immigration benefits pending or who have not received immigration benefits during their two-year parole period must leave the United States before the expiration of their authorized parole period or If not, he may be placed in deportation proceedings after his parole period expires,” a DHS spokesperson told DCNF.
The decision, seen as the administration’s latest shift to the right on immigration enforcement, could leave a broad range of immigration status in limbo. 530,000 foreigners People who entered the United States through the program. But border hawks argue that tough negotiations won’t actually lead to widespread crackdowns.
SAN LUIS, AZ – MAY 21: With the U.S.-Mexico border wall in the background, a pregnant woman from Haiti is helped by her partner (left, center) and another migrant while going into labor after crossing from Mexico. immigration. May 21st. 2022, San Luis, Arizona. (Photo courtesy of Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“I guess they think they’re going to hold anyone accountable for participating.” [the White House] History has shown that removing people here often means that they remain permanently, regardless of their status, especially if they work and have children.” Director Eric Ruark said. A study by NumbersUSA, an organization that advocates for lower levels of immigration into the United States, found that “eventually we would expect Congress to grant them amnesty.”
“Yes, they may end these programs, but they are not doing anything to remove these people from the United States,” Ruark continued.
beginning launched For Venezuelans in October 2022, CHNV It was later expanded In January 2023, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians will also be eligible. The parole program grants foreign nationals permission to enter the United States and work for two years, provided they have not previously entered the country illegally and have not passed any other screening process.
According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), more than 110,000 Cubans, more than 210,000 Haitians, nearly 93,000 Nicaraguans, and nearly 117,000 Venezuelans have received treatment under the program. He was granted parole and entered the United States. Approximately 30,000 registrants were entering the country each month.
CHNV was suspended in August after large-scale fraud was discovered within the program. An internal DHS audit, some of which was leaked to the public, found incredible discrepancies among applicants. For example, 100,948 CHNV forms were completed by just 3,218 sponsors, and 24 out of 1,000 Social Security numbers were completed by sponsors belonging to decedents. There are some red flags, including an individual and IP address located in Tijuana, Mexico being used over 1,300 times.
Despite discovering serious levels of fraud, DHS reinstated CNHV in August, just weeks after confirming its suspension.
“I wasn’t surprised by the amount of fraud,” Ruark said. “I think that has a lot to do with why they ended the program, because when a new administration comes in that exposes how much fraud and malfeasance there was in the system, they Because they don’t want the program to continue.”
“Or, if Congress has more oversight over these programs, Congress could say, ‘We’ve ended these programs,’ so they don’t have to be subject to public scrutiny or exposure.” Mr. Ruark continued.
Critics of the parole system, such as House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Greene, argue that it simply serves as a way to bring in large numbers of inadmissible aliens. . Republican lawmakers were also skeptical that CHNV would leave the U.S. once his parole ends.
“This move is yet another optics smokescreen by the Biden-Harris administration,” Greene said. said. “There are numerous other ways in which these inadmissible aliens could, and likely will, be allowed to remain, including by applying for asylum or applying for Temporary Protected Status. .”
“But even if it wasn’t, given what we were given; [Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s] Most of them will not be a priority for removal because of the low enforcement rates under this administration,” he continued.
U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (center) visits the U.S.-Mexico border with U.S. Border Patrol Tucson District Director John Modlin (R) on September 27, 2024 in Douglas, Arizona. . (Photo by: REBECCA NOBLE/AFP) (Photo by: REBECCA NOBLE/AFP via Getty Images)
In a statement confirming that CHNV’s parole will not be renewed, DHS suggested that those enrolled in the program can “seek humanitarian relief or other immigration benefits for which they are eligible.” Additionally, the latest ICE data shows a significant decline in enforcement actions by the agency since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, and whether the Harris administration will crack down on former CHNV parolees who remain in the U.S. illegally remains unclear. It is being questioned.
Data compiled by the National Immigration Enforcement Center (NICE) shows that there were a total of 273,708 deportations of illegal immigrants during the first three financial years of the Biden-Harris administration, including ICE officers and others. It also includes the expulsion of federal immigration officials. This number is a significant decrease from the 749,462 deportations that occurred during the first three fiscal years of the Trump administration.
“Overall, deportations of convicted criminal aliens have fallen by 74%, completely undermining Kamala Harris’ claim that ICE has simply increased its focus on criminal aliens.” says the NICE report. “In fact, her policies have allowed most illegal aliens to remain in the country indefinitely, even those who have committed crimes.”
The Biden-Harris administration, which has brought immigration controls to historic levels for undocumented immigrants, appears to be moderating its border security agenda in the run-up to the presidential election.
In June, President Joe Biden announced an executive order effectively closing the U.S.-Mexico border until the number of daily illegal encounters falls below a certain threshold. He further strengthened the policy in September, extending the timeline for the executive order to expire, effectively guaranteeing that the policy would continue through the remaining days of the presidential election.
The administration’s decision not to renew parole for CHNV registrants appears to be the latest act of immigration crackdown. But Ruark said the move would be meaningless unless deportations take place.
“If they wanted to put on a dog and pony show to show they’re tough, they’d make a big fuss about eliminating violent criminal aliens, but they’re not even doing that,” Ruark said. he said.
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