McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — The Department of Homeland Security says migrants who have claimed refugee status in another country may not apply for a special U.S. parole program that is currently available to Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.
“An individual is ineligible to be considered for parole under these processes if that person is a dual national or permanent resident of, or holds refugee status in, another country,” DHS told Border report in response to questions regarding a special U.S. program that allows up to 30,000 qualifying asylum seekers from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to come into the United States each month.
Last week, Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee criticized the Biden administration saying that they have new data showing asylum-seekers are not just departing from these four countries, but also from more than 70 others worldwide under this CHNV Parole process. This includes including Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Great Britain, Hong Kong and Sweden, according to data obtained by the Center for Immigration Studies as part of ongoing litigation.
“Biden and (Homeland Secretary Alejandro) Mayorkas continue to make a mockery of our laws,” Homeland Security Chairman Rep. Mark Green, of Tennessee, said. “These departure locations show that many of those who have left the CHNV countries seeking economic opportunity or a better life have found it in prosperous nations through Europe, Asia, and elsewhere.”
A Mexican smuggler guides a Haitian family across the Morelos Dam over the Colorado River from Los Algodones, Mexico, on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, to Yuma, Ariz., on the other side. For nationalities that don’t need a visa, Mexico is often the ticket to seeking asylum in the United States. (AP Photo/Elliot Spagat)
The Center for Immigration Studies nonprofit describes itself as a “low-immigration, pro-immigrant” organization, according to its website.
In a report posted on its website on Monday, the organization criticizes the CHNV parole program, saying “the Biden administration is deliberately funneling would-be illegal migrants away from the border itself and into the border ports to hide the true size and costs of its border policies.”
“None of the CHNV beneficiaries have to actually be living in those four countries to be granted CHNV parole,” the organization writes.
Homeland Security officials tell Border Report that in order to qualify for CHNV Parole, a person must be outside of the United States, be a national of one of those four countries, or be an immediate family member — spouse, common-law partner, and/or unmarried child under age 21 — “who is traveling with an eligible Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan or Venezuelan.”
They also must have an approved U.S.-based supporter and possess an unexpired passport.
They must provide their own commercial air travel to the United States and undergo national security and public safety vetting, and they must have proper vaccinations.
They also must “demonstrate that a grant of parole is warranted based on significant public benefit or urgent humanitarian reason.”
The dual-citizenship regulation does not apply to immediate family members who are traveling with someone under the CHNV program.
This special parole program was extended in January 2023 to include Haitians, Cubans and Nicaraguans. It had existed since October 2022 but only for Venezuelans.
DHS says through the end of May, over 460,000 people have arrived lawfully in the United States under this parole process. This includes:
More than 191,000 Haitians have been vetted and approved for U.S. travel, and 176,000 have arrived
More than 111,000 Venezuelans have been vetted and approved for U.S. travel, and 105,000 have arrived
99,000 Cubans have been vetted and approved for U.S. travel, and 97,000 have arrived
More than 86,000 Nicaraguans have been vetted and approved for U.S. travel, and 80,000 have arrived
Once they arrive in the United States, they are subject to fingerprinting and biometric vetting by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, DHS says.
Those who do not warrant parole are processed through another pathway, which may include Title 8 removal orders, or they might be referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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