More than 4,700 Cubans have been authorized to enter the United States under the new humanitarian parole program established by the Government of Joe Biden at the beginning of January.
In total, to date, more than 7,500 migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti have already received authorization, according to a report of the CNN. To those already mentioned on the island are added more than 800 Nicaraguans and around 2,000 Haitians, reports the US media.
Since January 5, when it was announced Under the new policy, more than 1,700 people came to the United States under this process from these three nations, according to a Homeland Security official quoted by the television network.
The program highlights the CNN, is based on a similar one launched last year for Venezuelan migrants. Since October, more than 26,000 people from that South American country have been approved to reach US territory, according to official data referred to in the report.
Now, after the announcement at the beginning of the year, Venezuelans were included in this new program together with the citizens of Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti. Up to 30,000 people from these countries will be able to enter the United States each month through this route.
“To qualify, immigrants must have a sponsor in the US and undergo an evaluation and verification,” says the CNNwhich also recalls that “those who do not apply may be returned to Mexico if they try to cross the border” and enter US soil illegally.
This, the outlet highlights, “marks a difference with respect to the previous (immigration) protocol.” In addition, those who are caught entering the United States illegally will not be able to apply for the new program.
Requirements of the new parole program to immigrate to the United States
According to US officials, after the announcement of the humanitarian parole, the number of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans trying to cross the southern border irregularly has decreased considerably.
The arrests of migrants of these four nationalities decreased by 97% in January compared to December, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The new program has drawn criticism from Democratic politicians and immigrant advocates, as well as Republicans and anti-immigrant groups.
This week, prosecutors from 20 Republican-ruled states, led by Texas, filed a lawsuit to stop the humanitarian parole program. To do this, they argued that the Biden Administration did not go through the process of notification and comment of the regulation before instituting the rule, points out the CNN.
The hearing before a judge of the southern district of Texas was set for April 25. The judge, Drew Tipton, was appointed by former President Donald Trump and has already ruled against the Biden government in other lawsuits.
“These border control measures are working,” said the Secretary of National Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “It is incomprehensible that some states that will benefit from these highly effective enforcement measures are trying to block them and cause more irregular migration at our southern border.”
