Additional Coverage:
Biden Administration Ends Legal Status for Venezuelan Migrants
The Biden administration has decided not to extend the legal status of tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants who entered the U.S. under a sponsorship program.
Program Details
The program, launched in October 2022, allowed Venezuelans to fly to the U.S. if they found American sponsors. It was expanded in January 2023 to include migrants from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua.
As of August, over 530,000 migrants had entered the U.S. under the program. They were granted two-year work permits under a legal status known as parole.
Expiration of Parole
The first group of Venezuelans under the program will lose their parole status this month. Advocates expected the administration to extend the status, as it did for Afghan evacuees and Ukrainian refugees.
Decision Against Extension
However, the Department of Homeland Security has declined to extend parole for Venezuelans. Instead, they will be asked to apply for other immigration benefits or leave the country.
Alternatives for Venezuelans
Venezuelans may be eligible for Temporary Protected Status or asylum. They can also apply for immigrant visas if they have U.S. citizen relatives willing to sponsor them.
Reactions
The decision has drawn criticism from progressives who argue that Venezuelans are being treated differently than Afghans and Ukrainians. However, it may appease Republicans who have denounced the sponsorship program as fraudulent.
Impact on Border Crossings
The sponsorship program has been a key strategy in reducing illegal border crossings. The ban on asylum claims in June has further decreased crossings, especially for migrants eligible for the sponsorship program.