An elderly Cuban woman was returned to Cuba after attempting to enter the United States with a fraudulent humanitarian parole this week. The issue was brought to light by journalist Mario J. Pentón, who used his social media platform to warn those awaiting humanitarian parole to remain calm and not fall for scams where individuals demand payment to expedite the process, as these are traps with legal repercussions.
The incident unfolded at Tampa Airport, where Immigration authorities identified irregularities in the document presented by the Cuban woman. The humanitarian parole was deemed counterfeit, resulting in her immediate deportation back to Cuba. Her family in the United States, who had paid thousands of dollars hoping for a swift family reunification, was left heartbroken.
Interviewed by Pentón, attorney Mayron Gallardo emphasized that such frauds could lead to serious legal consequences for both the victims and their families. "They could face criminal charges for human trafficking, which further complicates their situation," Gallardo explained.
Stricter Measures Against Humanitarian Parole Fraud
This incident occurs amid heightened efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to crack down on fraud within the humanitarian parole program. Initiated by the Biden administration in January 2023, the program allows migrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, and Nicaragua to reside and work in the United States temporarily for two years. After the first year, Cubans typically use the Adjustment Act to secure permanent residency.
However, the DHS paused the program in August due to a surge in fraudulent applications. Upon restarting the program with stringent security protocols, the agency stressed that any attempts at fraud would be prosecuted by the appropriate authorities.
The new measures include collaboration with entities such as the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The program now involves more thorough background and financial checks on sponsors, along with fingerprint collection as part of the approval process.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced that among his first actions upon taking office will be the termination of the humanitarian parole program and the CBP One App appointments, which allow migrants in Mexico to coordinate interviews for legal entry into the United States.