Under the Biden administration's use of humanitarian parole, over 1.3 million migrants have been released into the US, with some facing serious criminal charges, including sexual assault on children. Concerns over the program's vetting process and potential legal implications have arisen.
The Biden administration's efforts to alleviate the southern border crisis have come under intense scrutiny following revelations that migrants paroled into the US have been charged with sexual assault on children. Amid the ongoing debate over Haitian migration, officials have disclosed the staggering number of individuals allowed into the country under humanitarian parole programs.
To address the escalating border situation in 2022, the Biden administration expanded two pathways for migrants to enter the US legally via parole. One program permits migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry through the CBP One app, allowing 1,450 migrants daily entry. The other provides parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, allowing up to 30,000 migrants monthly to apply for authorization without reaching the border.
Biden's Migrant Influx: Over 1 Million Paroled into US, Allegations of Sexual Assault on Children Emerge
According to statistics released on Monday, approximately 530,000 migrants from these four countries have been granted parole through August 2024. The program was briefly suspended in July after an internal report uncovered instances of fraud involving sponsors offering support to incoming migrants. DHS resumed authorization processing after implementing additional safeguards last month.
The discovery of fraud has prompted Republican lawmakers to demand that the program be terminated, arguing that it violates the law by granting parole on a broader scale than permitted by the "case-by-case" basis limitation for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
Biden's Migrant Influx: Over 1 Million Paroled into US, Allegations of Sexual Assault on Children Emerge
DHS maintains its defense of parole, attributing a sharp decline in encounters at the border to its implementation. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) emphasizes that all CHNV beneficiaries undergo thorough screening and vetting before arriving in the US. The statement highlights that encounters have decreased by 99% since the inception of these "safe, orderly, and lawful" processes.
In addition to the CBP One app, approximately 813,000 individuals have made appointments for parole into ports of entry. The total number of individuals paroled through these two programs since their implementation has exceeded 1.3 million.
Biden's Migrant Influx: Over 1 Million Paroled into US, Allegations of Sexual Assault on Children Emerge
Those paroled into the US are vetted and granted temporary residency for up to two years with work authorization. However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sources express concerns about their insufficient resources to locate and deport such a large population of overstaying individuals.
The administration's strategy of expanding lawful pathways while enforcing consequences for illegal entry has led to a significant decrease in encounters at the southern border. In August 2023, encounters dropped to 107,503 from 232,963 in August 2022. Encounters have declined by over 50% since June, when President Biden signed an executive order limiting border arrivals at certain encounter levels.
Biden's Migrant Influx: Over 1 Million Paroled into US, Allegations of Sexual Assault on Children Emerge
Despite the reduction in encounters, the use of parole has faced criticism due to allegations of fraud and concerns over the influx of Haitian migrants into cities like Springfield, Ohio. A House Republican report accuses the administration of violating the law by granting parole to millions of undocumented immigrants and creating nationality-based parole programs.
DHS continues to defend its use of parole, citing a court victory against a coalition of Republican-led states challenging the law in March. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasizes the success of these processes in reducing the number of encounters at the southern border and addressing the global challenge of irregular migration.
However, the emergence of alleged crimes committed by those paroled into the US, including the arrest of a Haitian migrant accused of molesting a boy in Massachusetts, has raised red flags. Additionally, Mexico recently released a video depicting buses transporting migrants with CBP One appointments to the US border.
Former President Trump has pledged to terminate the CBP One app and various parole programs if re-elected. He vowed to stop migrant flights, end illegal entries, revoke deportation immunity, and return undocumented immigrants to their home countries.
As the debate over Biden's migrant policies intensifies, the implications of these programs for border security, public safety, and the rule of law remain a subject of ongoing scrutiny and debate.
