The Biden administration declines to extend temporary legal status for particular migrants originating from four nations.
The move was made almost two years after the government launched a service targeting Venezuelans looking to enter the U.S., letting them temporarily reside and work within the nation as a measure to manage border crowding. The plan required sponsors in the U.S., thorough screenings and vetting, and completed vaccinations.
Later, the scheme was expanded to cover Nicaraguans, Cubans, and Haitians, with officials portraying it as a means for migrants to lawfully enter America.
However, the initiative sparked controversy as Republicans accused the administration of misusing parole powers and frequently attacked President Joe Biden's immigration policies.
By the end of August, around 530,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela had traveled to the U.S. under the plan, according to federal statistics. New applications are still welcomed from these countries, although the program was temporarily halted amid concerns about deception during the summer.
Authorities maintain the program was intended to be temporary, allowing those who arrived to apply for other lawful status in the U.S. The administration didn't promise the program's extension, but did offer duplicate parole for Ukrainians and Afghans under similar schemes.
Parole for certain Venezuelans is about to expire, aligning with the two-year duration of the program, while immigration remains a major campaign topic between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in the lead-up to Election Day.
A Homeland Security representative commented, "As previously stated in Federal Register notices, a parole grant under these procedures was for a temporary period of up to two years. This two-year span was intended to enable individuals to seek humanitarian aid or other immigration benefits they might be eligible for, and to work and contribute to the U.S."
Protections will lapse gradually, although some may have already sought other statutes to stay in the U.S. Those who haven't will be instructed to apply for another status or leave the U.S., or face deportation cases — potentially leaving some in legal limbo.
Venezuelans and Haitians are eligible for Temporary Protected Status — a type of humanitarian aid — and some who paroled into the U.S. have already applied for this status, according to Homeland Security officials. Cubans have a separate and distinct path to permanent status.
Nicaraguans may be the most affected, as they don't benefit from the same options. Asylum is an option for all nationalities, but not everyone fits the criteria.
Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee criticized the administration, stating, "Parole may not be renewed for some Venezuelans arriving through the unauthorized Biden-Harris CHNV program, but they could still be allowed to remain."
The controversy over President Joe Biden's immigration policies continued to dominate politics, with Republicans frequently criticizing the use of parole powers. Despite expiring parole for some Venezuelans, the administration offered duplicate parole for Ukrainians and Afghans under similar schemes.
The administration's immigration decisions have significant implications for the upcoming election, with politics centered around the issue, especially between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
