The Biden administration’s secretive migrant parole system may finally be exposed as House Republicans demand full transparency from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. After years of stonewalling, Americans might finally learn how many foreign nationals were quietly admitted through backdoor immigration channels. Noem is on the case!
At a glance:
• House Republicans are demanding DHS release complete data on migrants admitted through Biden’s expanded parole programs
• An estimated 1.5 million migrants entered through these programs, but exact numbers remain unknown
• The Biden administration significantly expanded parole for migrants from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti
• House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green claims the previous administration ignored subpoenas for this information
• President Trump has already revoked status for 532,000 migrants admitted through these programs
Republicans Demand Full Accounting of Biden’s Parole Pipeline
House Republicans are pressing newly appointed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to provide complete transparency on the Biden administration’s controversial migrant parole programs – and it seems like she’s going to do it. The request comes after what lawmakers describe as years of stonewalling by former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who allegedly refused to comply with congressional oversight attempts.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN), along with subcommittee leaders Josh Brecheen (R-OK) and Michael Guest (R-MS), have formally requested documents detailing the full scope of migrants admitted through various parole pathways. The committee leaders stated that the previous administration had “refused to respond to the Committee’s basic requests for information regarding parole programs, even after the Committee issued a subpoena.”
The lawmakers estimate that at least 1.5 million migrants who would otherwise be inadmissible were allowed to enter the United States through parole programs during Biden’s term. Historical data shows this represents a massive increase from previous administrations, with only 11,000 to 54,000 immigrants admitted annually through parole between 2014 and 2020.
As Bensman notes, Biden’s DHS launched the parole pipeline, known as Advance Travel Authorization, in October 2022. It has since permitted 386,000 migrants to book their flights to the U.S. to secure “humanitarian parole.”
This is unconstitutional and possibly criminal. Where…
— CombsJC (@RedState66) April 2, 2024
Unprecedented Expansion of Parole Authority
The Biden-Harris administration dramatically expanded the use of parole authority, creating new pathways for migrants from multiple countries including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti. By December 2023, approximately 531,690 migrants from just four countries – Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela – had been granted parole under these processes.
“The Biden-Harris administration’s lack of transparency created challenges to the Committee’s ability to determine the full extent of the Biden-Harris administration’s use of parole, the fiscal consequences of each individual parole program, and whether the current state of parole requires additional statutory remedies,” the Republican lawmakers wrote. Their letter to Secretary Noem requests comprehensive documentation on all migrants released through parole from January 21, 2021, to January 20, 2025.
The committee is also seeking detailed information about migrants whose parole status has expired and the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that helped facilitate the parole pipeline. These programs faced serious allegations of fraud, including the use of deceased sponsors’ Social Security numbers and fake addresses, which temporarily forced a suspension of the process.
Trump Administration Taking Action
President Trump has already begun dismantling Biden’s parole framework, revoking the legal status of 532,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who were admitted under the CHNV program. This decisive action represents the first step in rolling back what many Republicans view as an abuse of the parole authority intended for exceptional humanitarian cases.
The ongoing congressional hearings about the Biden-era border crisis are set to continue for some time yet – so we’re going to find out a lot.
