The Department of Homeland Security has paused a program that lets 30,000 immigrants from four countries into the United States each month, while it investigates claims for fraud.
The humanitarian program known as parole, for those coming from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, has been subjected to fraudulent applications, Fox News Digital reported Friday morning.
DHS told Newsweek that it has placed a hold on new applications out of “an abundance of caution” while it looks into the allegations.
The scheme allows migrants from those countries to enter the U.S. via airports, after finding a sponsor in the U.S. and undergoing background checks.
“Out of an abundance of caution, DHS has temporarily paused the issuance of advanced travel authorizations for new beneficiaries while it undertakes a review of supporter applications,” a DHS spokesperson confirmed to Newsweek Friday afternoon.
“DHS will restart application processing as quickly as possible, with appropriate safeguards.”
Those who apply for parole have to have a sponsor who immigration officials have vetted and confirmed. This is where the alleged fraud was uncovered, the Federation for American Immigration Reform reported.
Social Security numbers, addresses and phone numbers had been used hundreds of times in some cases, the group said, while some of those locations included a warehouse and a storage unit.
In some cases, the same answer was used on over 10,000 applicants.
“Not only has the administration made a mockery of the law, DHS’s internal investigation proves that USCIS ignored blatant fraud and confirmed applications despite fictitious information,” Dan Stein, president of FAIR, said in a press release.
“The obvious questions that must be asked now are who gave the orders to ignore fraud? Has the agency taken steps to stop it? And what, if anything, is DHS doing to track down and potentially revoke parole for the many thousands of people granted entry after filing fraudulent applications?”
DHS told Newsweek that it had review mechanisms in place to monitor for fraudulent activity on applications.
“Where fraud is identified, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) will investigate and litigate applicable cases in immigration court and make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice,” the spokesperson added.
“CHNV beneficiaries are thoroughly screened and vetted prior to their arrival to the United States. The multi-layered screening and vetting for advanced travel authorizations is separate from the screening of U.S.-based supporters. DHS has not identified issues of concern relating to the screening and vetting of beneficiaries.”
Once DHS became aware of the issue, the pause was initiated in early July for Venezuelans, with those from the other three countries suspended on July 18.
Parole began in 2022 for Venezuelans, with the other three countries joining in early 2023. Those who can participate have to meet certain criteria, including having a valid passport and meeting vaccination requirements.
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