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More than 530,000 migrants who entered the U.S. under a unique parole program during the Biden administration had their legal status terminated and are being told to « self-deport », according to a notice posted in the Federal Register on Friday.
Migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) were given special parole status at the height of the migrant surge at the border. This allowed them to enter the country despite serious questions about the sponsors in the U.S. who were bringing them in.
An internal government audit revealed by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) showed that Social Security numbers of dead sponsors in the U.S. and fake phone numbers were used on applications. One street address from an application was used by 19,000 migrants looking to enter the country under the program. Abuses of this kind forced the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to temporarily shutter the program in July 2024.
Phony sponsors, as well as sponsors who misrepresent who they are, is a problem that’s endemic in the immigration industry. This proves to be particularly troubling when unaccompanied minors are involved. The Biden administration was so panicky about sending migrant children home with a sponsor that they didn’t vet the sponsors properly, leading to an unknown number of kids being trafficked.
As for the CHNV parolees, fraud was encouraged, because in order to take part in the parole program, a sponsor was necessary.
