Biden Administration Restarts Immigration Program with Stricter Sponsor Vetting Amid Criticism

The Biden administration has decided to restart an immigration program that allows migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the United States, but with increased scrutiny of their U.S.-based financial sponsors following concerns about potential fraud.

This program, initially launched in January 2023, is a key component of the administration’s broader immigration strategy aimed at managing legal pathways for entry while curbing illegal border crossings.

Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) temporarily suspended the program to investigate allegations of fraud among sponsors. Although an internal review found no evidence of widespread fraud, DHS is putting in place additional safeguards to ensure the process’s integrity. These measures include conducting more thorough background checks, reviewing financial records, and collecting fingerprints from sponsors. DHS emphasized that most cases involved minor errors, such as typos, rather than intentional fraud.

The program allows up to 30,000 people per month from the four countries to enter the U.S. legally under a two-year work authorization. Migrants must have a U.S.-based financial sponsor and must fly into the country rather than crossing the southern border illegally. While DHS claims the program has significantly reduced illegal border crossings among these nationalities, the decision to restart it has been met with sharp criticism from Republicans.

Critics argue that the program bypasses traditional immigration laws and does not sufficiently address the risks of fraud and exploitation by sponsors. Representative Mark Green, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, expressed disappointment that DHS is resuming the program without addressing what he describes as “fundamental flaws.” He emphasized that the fraud would not be an issue if DHS stopped “importing 30,000 inadmissible aliens every month.”

Despite these criticisms, DHS maintains that the additional vetting measures will protect against fraud and exploitation while continuing to offer a legal pathway for migrants from countries with high immigration rates. The administration has highlighted the program’s success in reducing illegal entries, but critics see it as a stopgap measure that fails to address larger immigration issues.

With input from the Associated Press, FOX New and New York Post.