EXCLUSIVE: The Biden administration has temporarily suspended a contentious program enabling tens of thousands of migrants from four countries to travel specifically into the U.S., following an internal report that raised serious concerns about significant fraud within the program.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Fox News Digital that it has paused the issuance of advance travel authorizations due to fraud concerns related to the program, which permits up to 30,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) each month to enter the U.S. legally under the administration’s use of parole, contingent upon meeting various criteria.
A source in Congress informed Fox News Digital that the pause was initiated in mid-July after an internal investigation uncovered extensive fraud in the applications from those sponsoring the migrants. DHS indicated that this suspension will remain in effect while they assess the sponsor applications.
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Dec. 19, 2023: A migrant flight takes off to Chicago from Texas. (Gov. Greg Abbott)
“DHS has measures in place to detect and prevent fraud and abuse within our immigration processes. DHS treats any misuse of its processes with utmost seriousness,” stated a DHS spokesperson. “When fraud is detected, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will conduct investigations and pursue cases in immigration court, alongside making criminal referrals to the Department of Justice.”
“As a precaution, DHS has put a hold on the issuance of travel authorizations for new participants while reviewing supporter applications. DHS aims to resume processing applications promptly, ensuring adequate safeguards,” they added.
The program was first launched for Venezuelans in October 2022, permitting a limited number of them to enter the U.S. directly, provided they had not entered illegally, possessed a sponsor in the U.S., and passed specific biometric and biographical checks. The program does not arrange flights; migrants are responsible for their travel expenses.
In January 2023, the administration announced an expansion of the program to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans, allowing up to 30,000 migrants monthly into the U.S. It also grants migrants work permits and a two-year authorization to reside in the U.S., coinciding with an expansion of Title 42 expulsions for those nationalities.
A congressional source indicated to Fox News Digital that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ceased issuing travel authorizations to Venezuelans on July 6, followed by the other three nationalities on July 18.
The internal report revealed that applicants often used the same social security numbers, addresses, and phone numbers multiple times. Parts of the document shared with Fox News Digital by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), a conservative immigration watchdog, showed that 100,948 forms had been completed by 3,218 serial sponsors—those whose information appeared on 20 or more forms.
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This split image depicts DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas with migrants at the southern border. ((Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images and Andrew Harnik/Getty Images))
The report also revealed troubling findings, including that 24 of the 1,000 most frequently used numbers belonged to deceased individuals. Over 100 physical addresses appeared on between 124 and 739 forms, including some storage facilities. One sponsor’s phone number was listed over 2,000 times, and 2,839 forms contained nonexistent sponsor zip codes.
This report was produced by the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate to enable DHS to respond rapidly to any fraud within immigration benefit programs. Sponsors must pass security and background checks and prove they possess the financial means to support the individuals they sponsor.
DHS reiterated to Fox News Digital that CHNV beneficiaries undergo thorough screening and vetting before their arrival in the U.S.
“The multi-layered screening and vetting process for advance travel authorizations is distinct from the evaluation of U.S.-based supporters,” the spokesperson emphasized. “DHS has not found any concerns regarding the screening and vetting of beneficiaries.”
This suspension is likely to provoke additional scrutiny from Republicans, who claim that the Biden administration’s use of parole has exceeded the limits of authority granted by Congress, intended strictly for urgent humanitarian situations or significant public benefit.
“This indicates the administration’s willingness to compromise public safety to facilitate the entry of as many undocumented immigrants as possible,” remarked Ira Mehlman, a spokesperson for FAIR.
The administration continues to utilize the CBP One app, permitting 1,450 migrants to enter the U.S. through a designated port each day. It has also recently introduced a “parole in place” option for the spouses of undocumented immigrants.
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DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated recently that the program represents a “safe and orderly way to enter the United States” and has “resulted in a decrease in the numbers of migrants from those nationalities.”
“It is a vital component of our efforts to manage the unprecedented levels of migration occurring in our hemisphere, and other nations view it as a model for addressing the issue of increased irregular migration they are facing,” Mayorkas stated.
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DHS disclosed that, as of October 2023, about 1.6 million applicants are awaiting authorization from DHS to travel to the U.S. via the parole program.
A legal challenge against the program was dismissed earlier this year, but the Republican-led states that initiated it have indicated plans to appeal.
