Former President Trump Misleads About Flights Carrying Migrants to the US
In a recent speech, former President Donald Trump made misleading claims about flights carrying migrants to the United States. He stated, “It was announced that 325,000 people were flown in from parts unknown. Migrants were flown in — airplane — not going through borders, not going through that great Texas barrier.” However, these statements are not entirely accurate.
Trump seems to be referring to a report released by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), a think tank known for its stance on curbing immigration. The report, authored by Todd Bensman, a senior national security fellow at CIS, alleges that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) approved secretive flights that brought 320,000 migrants to select US airports last year.
However, it is important to note that CBP did not facilitate these flights, and the program through which migrants entered the United States is not secretive but rather public information. Furthermore, the article fails to mention who exactly is being flown into or within the United States. These migrants are individuals who have been approved and vetted by authorities.
The process through which migrants flew into the United States is called CBP One, a mobile app that allows users to schedule appointments and claim asylum with border authorities. This ensures that these individuals go through a thorough vetting process before entering the country.
Additionally, there are several parole programs in place that allow temporary entry and residence in the United States. These programs include family reunification, which is available on a case-by-case basis and by invitation only, as well as a humanitarian parole program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Migrants who are approved under these programs may enter the US through a land port of entry or by flying in, but they are responsible for covering the cost of their own flights.
According to federal data, CBP processed around 45,000 individuals through CBP One appointments at ports of entry in January alone. Moreover, since the introduction of the parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans over a year ago, more than 386,000 people from these nationalities have arrived in the US. These individuals undergo thorough vetting and are also required to have sponsors in the US. The purpose of these programs is to provide a legal pathway to the US and discourage illegal border crossings.
It remains unclear how CIS arrived at the figure of 320,000 migrants, as the group claims to have obtained this information through a lawsuit. The article suggests that the government categorizes these programs as family reunification initiatives.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security emphasized that these processes were announced over 14 months ago and aim to provide a safe, orderly, and lawful way for certain Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans to come to the United States. They also highlighted that these processes are part of the administration’s strategy to combine expanded lawful pathways with stronger consequences to reduce irregular migration. The spokesperson dismissed claims of a secret program and stated that the CHNV parole processes are public.
The CIS article mentions that disclosing information about the airports involved could create operational vulnerabilities and be exploited by “bad actors.” However, this response from the government is standard procedure when it comes to inquiries involving law enforcement.
Criticism of the Biden administration’s use of parole has come primarily from Republicans, who argue that the authority is being used too broadly. Parole has been utilized by multiple administrations in urgent situations, such as admitting Afghans after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Ukrainians after Russia’s invasion. It has also been employed to allow migrants from designated countries to temporarily live and work in the US, aiming to manage surges at the border.
In conclusion, while former President Trump’s claims about flights carrying migrants may have sounded alarming, they are misleading. The flights were not facilitated by CBP, and the program through which migrants entered the US is not secretive. These individuals undergo vetting and are part of parole programs that provide a legal pathway to the United States. The government has clarified that these processes are public and have been implemented to reduce irregular migration.