Homeland Security Secretary Defends Controversial Policy Allowing 30,000 Migrants to Enter the US Each Month
In a move that has sparked controversy and legal battles, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has defended a policy that allows up to 30,000 migrants to be flown into the United States each month. This policy is seen as a key element of the Biden administration’s strategy to address the border crisis. Despite facing a lawsuit from twenty GOP-led states, the policy has survived and been ruled in favor of by U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton.
The program, known as the Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program, was first announced in October 2022 for Venezuelans. It allowed a limited number of Venezuelans to fly directly into the U.S. if they had not entered illegally, had a sponsor in the U.S., and passed certain checks. In January 2023, the program was expanded to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans, with a monthly allowance of up to 30,000 people. This program grants migrants work permits and a two-year authorization to live in the U.S.
The lawsuit filed by the states argued that the program is illegal based on the limited parole power given to the federal government by Congress. They claimed that the program does not meet the three limiting factors of being case-by-case, for urgent humanitarian reasons, or for significant public benefit. The lawsuit argues that instead of adhering to Congress’s limits, the program creates a new visa program that allows hundreds of thousands of aliens to enter the United States without a basis for doing so.
However, Secretary Mayorkas defended the program after Judge Tipton’s ruling. He sees the parole processes for individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela as a safe and orderly way to reach the United States. Mayorkas believes that this program has significantly reduced the number of encounters at the southern border. He also sees the program as a model that other countries can adopt to address the challenge of increased irregular migration.
Despite Mayorkas’s defense of the program, record encounters at the border have been reported since its expansion. In FY23, there were over 2.4 million migrant encounters, a record high. In December alone, there were more than 302,000 encounters, marking the first time encounters exceeded 300,000. Republicans have pointed to these numbers as evidence that the administration’s policies have contributed to the border crisis. They accuse the administration of promoting an open border by increasing releases into the interior, reducing interior enforcement, and halting most border wall construction.
The Biden administration argues that it is dealing with a crisis that extends beyond its borders and requires more funding and immigration reform from Congress. The administration has called for the passage of a recent Senate bill that includes funding, staffing, and some limits on releases. However, conservatives have rejected this bill as insufficient.
Mayorkas has pushed back against claims that the border is open and encourages migrants to use legal pathways instead of entering illegally. He warns against believing the lies of smugglers and emphasizes that those without a legal basis to remain in the United States will face prompt removal, a minimum five-year bar on admission, and potential criminal prosecution for unlawful reentry.
The debate surrounding the controversial policy continues, with both sides presenting their arguments. While the Biden administration sees it as a necessary measure to address migration challenges, critics argue that it undermines legal immigration and compromises border security. As the legal battles continue, the fate of the program hangs in the balance, and its impact on immigration policy remains uncertain.
Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security. He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter.
