The Biden administration has halted its migrant sponsorship program following a surge in fraudulent activity that has raised serious concerns about the program’s integrity. This initiative, aimed at providing a legal entry route for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, has been temporarily suspended as authorities conduct a thorough review.
The program, launched in 2022, was designed to allow up to 30,000 migrants per month to enter the U.S. with the support of American sponsors. However, recent reports of fraudulent applications have prompted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to pause the issuance of travel authorizations.
A congressional source confirmed to Fox News that the suspension, which began in mid-July, followed allegations of fraudulent activities related to sponsor applications. The DHS has stated that this precautionary measure is intended to address potential loopholes and ensure the program’s effectiveness.
“We have paused the issuance of advance travel authorizations for new beneficiaries while we review the supporter applications,” a DHS spokesperson said. The review aims to refine the process and implement stronger safeguards against fraud.
The DHS initially suspended the program for Venezuelan migrants in July and has since extended the pause to include migrants from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua. The department emphasized that the focus is on addressing issues with sponsor applications, rather than those of the migrants themselves.
The DHS reassured the public that it will resume processing applications “as quickly as possible” once the review is complete. The department is committed to preventing abuse in its immigration processes and will continue to investigate and address any fraudulent activities through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Justice.
This pause marks a significant setback in the administration’s efforts to manage the migrant crisis and underscores the challenges of maintaining the integrity of humanitarian programs.
