United States resumes humanitarian program for migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti

US Resumes Migration Program

Targeted at Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti

DHS Reveals Expected Changes

The US Government resumed this Thursday the adjudication of humanitarian permits for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

These permits allow individuals from these countries to travel to and legally enter the United States, which had been suspended at the beginning of the month to investigate possible frauds.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to EFE that after a nearly four-week pause, the program has been restarted.

It grants monthly entry to up to 30,000 people from these four countries into the US and allows them to obtain a work permit for a period of two years.

US RESUMES MIGRATION PROGRAM

US Resumes Migration Program – Photo: Shutterstock

In a written statement, the DHS explained that the selection process, especially the sponsorship of applicants under a figure known as «parole,» has been improved.

«The DHS has incorporated additional investigation of sponsors based in the U.S. to strengthen the integrity of the processes,» highlighted the agency.

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The program began at the end of 2022 initially for Venezuelan citizens and later expanded to include the other three nationalities.

It has allowed nearly half a million migrants to enter the U.S., according to DHS data.

Why was the migration program paused?

On August 2, the DHS paused the adjudication of travel authorizations «while it reviewed sponsor applications.»

To request the permit, migrants need to have a sponsor in the U.S. who already has legal status.

And also demonstrate sufficient income to financially support the program beneficiary.

The enhanced investigative measures announced this Thursday include, among others, greater scrutiny of financial records.

What investigative measures have been improved?

Criminal background checks of sponsors and methods to identify the submission of multiple applications by a single sponsor are part of the new process.

It also includes the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate of the Citizenship and Immigration Services.

As well as the National Targeting Center of US Customs and Border Protection.

They have also partnered to implement new and improved investigation protocols, elaborated the DHS.

Will there be greater demands?

The federal agency will now also require fingerprints of the sponsors and strengthened background checks of potential program beneficiaries.

The program, which has been the target of criticism and legal action by conservative opposition, is part of the measures of Joe Biden’s administration to curb migration at the southern border.

This measure, along with the asylum restrictions that the government has been implementing over the last two years, has helped to reduce the number of people from these four countries who are arrested at the border with Mexico.

The decrease has been especially notable in the detentions of people from Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua, according to CBP data.

*WITH INFORMATION FROM EFE.

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