Staff Reports
The Biden-Harris administration has made a bold decision that promises to shake things up in the illegal immigration realm, or at least that’s the story they’re selling. The word is out that the administration will not extend the temporary parole for around 530,000 non-citizens who benefited from the controversial CHNV (Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan) migrant flight program. While it might sound tough on paper, the real question here is whether any of this will actually lead to substantial removals from the country—or if it’s just another stellar example of political theater.
Those migrants who were let in under this travel program on a two-year parole are facing a ticking clock. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that, without an alternate immigration arrangement or a sudden change of heart, they should be preparing for a lonely trip home. It’s quite the pressure tactic, right? It certainly appears that way, but onlookers, especially those with a keen eye on immigration enforcement, suspect that this bold narrative won’t translate to action. After all, history has shown that once someone finds their way into the U.S. and starts working, they might as well be granted a permanent welcome mat, at least in the eyes of the current administration.
#Biden DHS' Sudden Crackdown On #Migrant Parolees Is Just Another Political 'Smokescreen,' #Border Hawks Say – "The Biden-Harris administration announced it would not be extending parole for the hundreds of thousands of non-citizens enrolled in a hotly debated migrant flight… pic.twitter.com/4sXN7hqRLh
— The American Messenger (@TheAmMessenger) October 14, 2024
The CHNV program began as a lifeline for Venezuelans before being expanded to include other nationalities. Over time, it ballooned into a veritable VIP section for migrants, with monthly entries reaching around 30,000. However, the party ran into trouble when fraud was unveiled at an astonishing scale. An audit revealed a multitude of fraud indicators, such as a shocking number of applications filed by just a handful of sponsors and suspicious social security numbers. This revelation raised eyebrows, but surprisingly didn’t lead to the program being scrapped entirely until it was recently put on pause. Once more, the administration kicked the can down the road.
Experts noted that the government’s decision not to renew status raises some eyebrows. Critics argue it’s all for show, pointing out that behind the curtain, there are plenty of escape routes remaining for these migrants—be it asylum applications or temporary protected status. According to some, it’s akin to a magician demonstrating a dramatic trick while the real sleight of hand happens elsewhere. Even with the withdrawal of the CHNV program, many speculate that most individuals will avoid deportation simply due to the current administration’s drastically lower enforcement rates. It seems that the only thing getting removed from the equation is any actual action against those who shouldn’t be in the country.
To add insult to injury, during the first three years of the Biden-Harris administration, deportations reached a mere fraction of what they were under Trump. The difference in approach is striking: while the previous administration prioritized securing borders and enforcing immigration laws, the current crowd seems more fixated on keeping those borders wide open, even as they occasionally rattle sabers about enforcement. It’s a classic case of saying one thing and doing another—a maneuver that has alarmed those who are advocating for tighter immigration controls.
So, as the Biden-Harris administration attempts to project a tougher stance on immigration, the question remains whether this will translate into anything meaningful or if it’s simply another chapter in the ongoing saga of “look over here!” politics. The rhetoric may change, but unless there’s a shift in action that matches the announcements, it’s likely that most who entered the U.S. under the CHNV program will remain unchallenged and undeterred—a fact that should send chills down the spines of border hawks everywhere.
