The Biden administration has reportedly decided not to extend parole for tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants who entered the U.S. through a controversial travel program that was temporarily halted earlier this year due to fraud discoveries.
Authorities have chosen not to prolong parole for Venezuelans who arrived in the U.S. under the CHNV program, which also covers Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans, as per a report by CBS News.
The program, initially launched for Venezuelans in October 2022 and later expanded to other nationalities in January 2023, allows migrants to enter the U.S. temporarily through the CBP One app and obtain a work permit after passing background checks and having a sponsor.
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U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks at the daily press briefing at the White House on July 15, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
By the end of August 2024, nearly 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans had arrived legally on commercial flights and were granted parole under these programs, with almost 117,000 Venezuelans among them.
Despite facing backlash from Republicans who have criticized the administration for running migrant flights, participants in the program are required to arrange their own travel.
While the program was briefly halted in August due to fraud discovered in sponsor applications, it was later resumed with enhanced vetting procedures to prevent future fraud.
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Although it was anticipated that the administration would prolong the parole status, DHS has opted against it for Venezuelans, urging them to either seek a different immigration status or depart the country, noting that Venezuela currently does not accept deportations from the U.S. It remains unclear if new migrants will continue to be admitted through the program, with no official statement from DHS.
Those who arrived before July 2023 may be eligible for Temporary Protected Status, a designation the Biden administration extended and redesignated for Venezuelans last year.
If a similar decision is made for the other three nationalities, their parole status will begin expiring in January next year.
This move is likely to anger immigration activists as the administration shifts away from more lenient policies leading up to the election. The administration supported a bipartisan border security bill this year, proposing limits on asylum entries and increased funding for border agencies.
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Border Patrol picks up a group of asylum seekers from an aid camp at the US-Mexico border near Sasabe, Arizona, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Justin Hamel/Getty Images)
Following the failure of the border security bill, President Biden signed an order in June limiting asylum admissions, resulting in a significant decrease in border arrivals by over 50%, reaching numbers lower than any during the current administration.
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The administration has emphasized increased removals and introduced a parole in place program for illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. However, recent measures have been announced to maintain the restrictions on border arrivals.
Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump are engaged in a contentious battle over border security stances, each accusing the other of failing on the issue. Polling indicates this is a top concern for voters, with Trump holding a significant lead over Harris in this area.
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Adam Shaw is a politics reporter covering immigration and border security for Fox News Digital. Contact him at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter.
