The US Department of Homeland Security said on Friday (Oct 4) that the Biden administration will not renew the Temporary Humanitarian Entry program for hundreds of thousands of migrants with US sponsors who have arrived in recent years.
About 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela have entered the US by air since October 2022 and received two-year grants under a “parole” program that is set to expire in the coming weeks Will go.
However, many of those migrants may remain in the country under other programs.
The parole program allows immigrants with existing U.S. sponsors to enter the country for humanitarian reasons or if their entry is deemed to have a significant public benefit. It will continue to accept new applications from abroad.
The administration of US President Joe Biden launched the parole program as a way to provide opportunities for migrants to enter legally and reduce illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border. Record numbers of migrants were caught crossing illegally during Biden’s presidency, but crossings have declined in recent months since Biden imposed new border restrictions.
Immigration is a top voter issue in the Nov. 5 election that will pit Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris against Republican Donald Trump, who has criticized the parole program.
Spokeswoman Nari Ketudat said in a statement that the decision not to renew the parole program for the four nationalities follows the plan outlined by DHS when the program was launched.
“Immigrants without permission to remain in the United States will be required to leave the United States before their authorized parole period expires or may be placed in removal proceedings,” Ketudat said.
Other parole programs have been expanded for Ukrainians and Afghans.
Most of the four nationalities permitted entry under the so-called CHNV parole program have pathways to remain in the US.
Many Cubans are eligible for permanent residence and eventually citizenship under the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966.
Most Haitians and Venezuelans in the US are eligible for Temporary Protected Status, which grants them deportation relief and work permits.
All four nationalities can apply for asylum.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
