Biden Administration Reinstates Immigration Program with Enhanced Vetting for Sponsors
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Loading... - Alessandra Bruno
- 30 Aug 2024
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The Biden administration has restarted an immigration program aimed at allowing migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to legally enter the United States, with additional vetting procedures now in place for U.S.-based financial sponsors. This program, initially launched in January 2023, had been suspended earlier in the month due to concerns about sponsor fraud. However, after an internal review by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the program has been reinstated with enhanced safeguards.
Key updates include more thorough scrutiny of the financial records and criminal backgrounds of sponsors, including mandatory fingerprinting. The DHS found some isolated instances of fraud, such as the use of fake Social Security numbers, but determined that most issues were minor and due to errors rather than intentional deceit. Despite these findings, the program has faced criticism, particularly from Republicans who view it as a bypass of traditional immigration laws.
The program allows up to 30,000 people per month from these four countries to enter the U.S. for two years with eligibility for work authorization, provided they have a U.S. sponsor who vouches for them. Since its inception, over 520,000 people have entered the U.S. through this program, which has also led to a significant decrease in illegal border crossings from these nationalities.
Critics argue that despite the additional vetting measures, the program still poses risks of fraud and exploitation, while supporters see it as a vital pathway for legal migration .
