(Scypre.com) – The Biden administration has paused a controversial program permitting tens of thousands of migrants from four nations to directly enter the United States, following internal reports of substantial fraud within the system.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Fox News Digital that, “out of an abundance of caution,” it has temporarily halted the issuance of advance travel authorizations for the program. This initiative, which allows up to 30,000 individuals monthly from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) to enter the U.S. legally under the administration’s parole policy, has been suspended due to concerns over fraudulent sponsor applications.
A congressional source informed Fox News Digital that the suspension began in mid-July after an internal report revealed significant fraud in sponsor applications. The DHS emphasized that the pause is focused on reviewing the applications of sponsors, not the beneficiaries. “DHS has review mechanisms in place to detect and prevent fraud and abuse in our immigration processes. DHS takes any abuse of its processes very seriously,” a DHS spokesperson stated. “Where fraud is identified, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will investigate and litigate applicable cases in immigration court and make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, DHS has temporarily paused the issuance of advanced travel authorizations for new beneficiaries while it undertakes a review of supporter applications. DHS will restart application processing as quickly as possible, with appropriate safeguards,” the spokesperson added.
The program, initially announced for Venezuelans in October 2022, allows a limited number to enter the U.S. legally if they have not entered illegally, have a U.S.-based sponsor, and pass specific biometric and biographical vetting. Although the program does not arrange flights, migrants must manage their own travel arrangements.
In January 2023, the administration expanded the program to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans, permitting up to 30,000 people per month. Participants can receive work permits and a two-year authorization to reside in the U.S. This expansion was paired with an extension of Title 42 expulsions to these nationalities.
A congressional source disclosed to Fox News Digital that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ceased issuing travel authorizations to Venezuelans on July 6, and for the other three nationalities on July 18.
The internal report revealed extensive misuse of social security numbers, addresses, and phone numbers, with some details appearing hundreds of times on applications. Shared by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the report indicated that 100,948 forms were submitted by 3,218 serial sponsors, with 24 of the most-used numbers belonging to deceased individuals. Additionally, 100 physical addresses were used between 124 and 739 times on over 19,000 forms, some of which were storage units. One sponsor phone number appeared on over 2,000 forms, and 2,839 forms listed non-existent sponsor zip codes.
The Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate created the report to enable DHS to swiftly address fraud in immigration benefits programs. Sponsors are required to pass security and background checks and prove they have the financial means to support the individuals they sponsor.
DHS assured Fox News Digital that CHNV beneficiaries undergo thorough screening before their arrival in the U.S. “The multi-layered screening and vetting for advanced travel authorizations is separate from the screening of U.S.-based supporters,” the spokesperson noted. “DHS has not identified issues of concern relating to the screening and vetting of beneficiaries.”
The suspension is likely to attract further scrutiny from Republicans, who have accused the Biden administration of misusing its parole authority, which is intended for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
“This is an indication that the administration was willing to cut every corner and endanger public safety in order to bring in as many illegal aliens as they could,” Ira Mehlman, a spokesperson for FAIR, told Fox News Digital.
Additionally, the administration employs the CBP One app to permit 1,450 migrants to enter the U.S. daily via a port of entry. It recently introduced a “parole in place” policy for spouses of illegal immigrants. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas described the program as a “safe and orderly way to reach the United States,” noting it has “led to a reduction in numbers of those nationalities.”
“It is a key element of our efforts to address the unprecedented level of migration throughout our hemisphere, and other countries around the world see it as a model to tackle the challenge of increased irregular migration that they too are experiencing,” Mayorkas said.
As of October 2023, DHS reported approximately 1.6 million applicants awaiting approval to fly to the U.S. through the parole program. Although a lawsuit challenging the program was dismissed earlier this year, the Republican states that filed it plan to appeal.