"DHS Documents Disclose Landing Points for Paroled Migrants under Biden's Controversial Flight Program"
Exclusive data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled the locations where hundreds of thousands of migrants under a contentious parole program have landed across more than 45 U.S. cities, with the majority arriving through airports in Florida.
The parole program, expanded during the Biden administration in January 2023, allowed migrants from four nationalities to fly into the U.S. under certain conditions. Between January and August 2023, approximately 200,000 migrants entered the U.S. via this program, with 80% of them—equivalent to 161,562 individuals—landing in Florida's cities, including Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, and Tampa Bay, as per DHS data obtained by the House Homeland Security Committee and shared with Fox News.
Initially introduced for Venezuelans in October 2022, the program stipulated specific requirements for entry, including having no illegal entry into the U.S., possessing a U.S. sponsor, and passing biometric and biographical vetting. The program's scope broadened in January 2023 to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans, allowing up to 30,000 individuals per month to enter the U.S. with work permits and a two-year authorization to reside in the country.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas defended the program, emphasizing its role in providing a safe and orderly migration route to the U.S. and reducing migration numbers. However, Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green criticized the program, arguing that it exceeded parole powers granted by Congress.
Green's sentiments were echoed in a lawsuit filed by multiple states, including Florida, challenging the program's legality. Despite a district judge's dismissal of the lawsuit, states have appealed, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration expressing confidence in the lawsuit's success.
DHS reiterated that individuals entering under the program undergo rigorous security vetting and meet eligibility criteria. The agency affirmed its commitment to combining lawful migration pathways with robust consequences to deter irregular migration, citing the program's role in preventing hundreds of thousands of irregular entries.
As the legal and political battle over the parole program continues, its impact on migration patterns and national security remains a subject of intense scrutiny and debate.
