The House Homeland Security Committee is demanding that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas provide documents related to the suspension of a controversial migrant flight program.
According to a report by Fox News, the committee, led by Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn, expressed deep concern over revelations of fraud within the program and described a recent briefing on the matter as "wholly unsatisfactory."
The program in question, known as the CHNV (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela) parole process, allows 30,000 nationals from these countries to enter the United States legally each month. The Biden administration paused the issuance of advance travel authorizations for the program in July after an internal report uncovered significant instances of fraud.
In a letter to Secretary Mayorkas, Chairman Green and other Republican committee members requested various documents and communications related to the program's suspension. The lawmakers are seeking an unredacted copy of the internal report that led to the pause, as well as information on fraud safeguards and current backlogs.
The committee's concerns stem from the findings of the internal report, which revealed that over 100,000 application forms were filled out by just 3,218 serial sponsors. Additionally, the report found that some of the most frequently used sponsor numbers belonged to deceased individuals, and numerous applications listed storage units as residential addresses.
Representative Green stated:
The Committee is deeply concerned that such measures reduced the level of scrutiny that prospective sponsor applications received, which possibly enabled the widespread abuse of the CHNV parole program as described in the report on the Department's internal investigation.
The CHNV program has faced criticism from Republicans since its inception. Initially announced for Venezuelans in October 2022, it was expanded to include nationals from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua in January 2023. The program allows eligible migrants to receive work permits and two years of authorization in the United States if they pass certain checks and have a sponsor.
Many Republican lawmakers have argued that the program constitutes an abuse of parole authority. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called for the program to be permanently shut down after the pause was revealed.
The DHS has defended the program, emphasizing that CHNV beneficiaries undergo thorough screening and vetting before arriving in the United States. A spokesperson for the department stated:
DHS has not identified issues of concern relating to the screening and vetting of beneficiaries. The multi-layered screening and vetting for advanced travel authorizations is separate from the screening of U.S.-based supporters.
The House Homeland Security Committee is now pressing for more information on the steps being taken to address the revealed fraud and the future of the program. They have requested documents related to fraud safeguards for other parole programs in use, as well as information on current backlogs and the specific dates when travel authorizations were suspended.
The DHS has indicated that it will respond to the committee's inquiries through official channels. As the investigation unfolds, the fate of the CHNV program remains uncertain, with supporters and critics closely watching developments.
In conclusion, the House Homeland Security Committee's demand for documents from Secretary Mayorkas highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding the Biden administration's migrant flight program. The revelation of fraud within the program has intensified Republican criticism and led to its temporary suspension. The committee's investigation seeks to uncover the extent of the fraud, understand the measures taken to prevent future abuses, and determine the program's viability moving forward.
