U.S. freezes humanitarian parole for Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans amid fraud allegations

The Biden administration has temporarily halted a humanitarian parole program that allows tens of thousands of migrants from four nations to enter the United States directly, following an internal report revealing multiple instances of fraud.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Fox News the suspension of advance travel authorizations for the program, which permits up to 30,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. legally under certain conditions.

A congressional source told the outlet that the pause began in mid-July after the discovery of substantial fraud in the applications submitted by sponsors. DHS clarified that the review focuses on sponsor filings rather than the beneficiaries' applications.

Initially launched for Venezuelans in October 2022, the program was expanded in January 2023 to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans. It allows migrants with U.S. sponsors who pass biometric and biographical vetting to receive work permits and a two-year authorization to live in the U.S. The program does not cover travel expenses, which migrants must bear themselves.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stopped issuing travel authorizations to Venezuelans on July 6 and to the other nationalities on July 18 after an internal report revealed widespread use of fraudulent information in sponsor applications. Social security numbers, addresses, and phone numbers were frequently reused, with some numbers appearing on hundreds of forms.

Prospective sponsors are required to pass security checks and demonstrate financial capability to support the migrants they sponsor. DHS stressed that beneficiaries of the CHNV program are thoroughly vetted before arrival in the United States, with separate layers of screening for travel authorizations and sponsor vetting.

DHS reported that as of October 2023, approximately 1.6 million applicants were waiting for approval to travel to the U.S. under the parole program. A lawsuit challenging the program was dismissed earlier this year, but the Republican states involved have indicated plans to appeal.

In addition to this program, the administration employs the CBP One app to allow 1,450 migrants to enter the U.S. daily through a port of entry and recently introduced a "parole in place" for spouses of illegal immigrants. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended the program as a "safe and orderly way" for migrants to reach the United States, noting its success in reducing the number of migrants from the specified nationalities and its potential as a model for addressing irregular migration globally.