The humanitarian parole program approved by the administration of President Joe Biden in January 2023 has authorized 100,500 Cubans to travel to the United States "in a safe, orderly, and legal manner" by May 2024, according to recent data provided by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This figure is part of the over 462,100 Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, and Cubans who arrived legally on commercial flights and were granted parole under these processes, which issue up to 30,000 visas monthly for these nationalities.
"Specifically, approximately 100,500 Cubans, 193,400 Haitians, 87,800 Nicaraguans, and 113,400 Venezuelans were screened and authorized to travel," states the report. However, it clarifies that out of these, about 98,200 Cubans, 177,100 Haitians, 80,700 Nicaraguans, and 106,100 Venezuelans arrived legally and were granted parole.
These numbers indicate that over 7,000 Cubans managed to enter the U.S. under this program, compared to the previous month when the figure stood at 91,000 from the Caribbean island. Nevertheless, the Haitian community continues to experience the highest growth in nationals entering U.S. territory thanks to the humanitarian parole.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden signed a series of executive actions that prevent irregular migrants from receiving asylum in the U.S. after crossing the border illegally. The White House stated in an official release that these "actions will be in effect when high levels of illegal migrant encounters at the Southern Border exceed the capacity to promptly generate consequences, as is the case on June 4."
They assert that the measures approved by Biden will make it easier for immigration officers to expel migrants who have no legal basis to remain in the U.S. Another goal is to reduce the workload of Border Patrol agents. The Biden Administration warns that Congress still needs to act to resolve the immigration issue at the Mexican border, as the president's actions do not provide the necessary personnel or funds to secure the situation.
Understanding the Humanitarian Parole and Its Impact
To provide further insights into the humanitarian parole program and its effects, here are some commonly asked questions and their answers.
What is humanitarian parole?
Humanitarian parole is a measure that allows individuals to enter the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, despite not meeting the usual visa requirements.
How many visas are issued under this program?
The program issues up to 30,000 visas monthly for nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
Why is Congress's action necessary?
Congress's action is necessary to provide the required personnel and funds to effectively manage and secure the border situation, which the president's executive actions alone cannot achieve.