Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with 15 Senate colleagues, have formally called on Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to terminate the Biden-Harris Administration’s parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV). The Senators expressed concerns about widespread reports of fraud and abuse associated with the program, which they argue violates federal law.
In their letter, the Senators outlined several issues they believe are tied to the CHNV program. They claim that the initiative has incentivized illegal migration, allowed violent criminals, including gang members, into the U.S., and admitted tens of thousands of individuals based on fraudulent applications. The Senators urged immediate termination of the program and called for enhanced border security and immigration enforcement, along with a thorough investigation into the program’s failings.
“We write to you with urgent and serious concerns regarding the Cuba-Haiti-Nicaragua-Venezuela (CHNV) Parole Program,” the Senators stated. They noted that, between January 2023 and July 2024, the program facilitated the entry of approximately 520,000 individuals via commercial air travel without proper authorization from Congress.
In response to concerns, the Biden administration temporarily halted the CHNV Parole Program in mid-July to review the application process. The program resumed with additional measures, including fingerprinting and increased scrutiny of financial and criminal records for sponsors. Despite these changes, the Senators argued that these adjustments do not address the fundamental flaws of the program.
The letter calls for the program’s permanent end and advocates for lawful and effective immigration policies. Other signatories of the letter include Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), among others.
