[Ray Bogan]
The number of immigrants, who according to US law, have no legal basis to stay in the US but are given the okay to remain has gone up 200-fold during the Biden Administration.
It’s called parole, and according to the American Immigration Council, it temporarily allows immigrants to remain in the United States while they apply for a legal status. Parole protects people from deportation but does not provide a pathway to citizenship. Parolees can receive a work permit but are expected to leave when their parole ends.
It differs from asylum which does provide legal status to remain in the United States and a pathway to a green card and citizenship.
During fiscal years 2014 through 2019, Presidents Obama and Trump granted parole anywhere from 4,000 to 7,500 times. The Biden Administration granted parole approximately 800,000 times in fiscal year 2022 and another 800,000 in the first three quarters of fiscal year 2023, fourth quarter data has not been released.
[Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.]
“They’re abusing the law. And these negotiations are looking for every way to get around the law. No matter how you write it. None of us trust the Biden administration to implement the law. So there needs to be a hard cap on parole.”
[Ray Bogan]
Republicans will not support an aid package for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific without parole and other immigration reforms.
The Immigration and Nationality Act allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant parole for humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit on a case by case basis. The GOP says the Biden administration is illegally granting it en masse.
[Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.]
“you cannot fix the problem that we have the crisis that we have at our southern border unless you address this critical issue. The abuse by this administration of the parole board, it has to stop.”
[Ray Bogan]
President Biden is hosting top Congressional Republicans at the White House, as the two sides try to finalize a deal. He and his fellow Democrats have called for stronger border security measures over the last couple of months, but they have not come far enough to get the support of Republicans.
[Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.]
“I think there need to be stages of review so that people on parole are at some point, given a review, and assess whether they are dangerous whether they have a legitimate claim to asylum.”
[Ray Bogan]
The Biden administration says its use of parole is meant to prevent illegal crossings, because migrants from certain countries who cross the border without first applying and making an appointment for a screening are automatically ineligible.
[Sen. Richard Blumenthal]
“I think that the parole program serves some very, very important functions, particularly as it relates to the Afghan refugees who are are at risk allies. It also is important for Ukrainians. And I think the program has to be continued.”