U.S. immigration website stops accepting applicants for Biden program in Trump crackdown

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website has stopped accepting forms necessary to sponsor migrants under the defunct parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) as part of the Biden administration’s initiative. This program, which allowed certain migrants to apply for entry into the United States and stay for up to two years, was terminated on President Donald Trump’s first day in office.

As of August 2024, nearly 530,000 individuals had been granted parole through the CHNV program, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). However, the program has now been discontinued, and the necessary forms have been removed from the USCIS website.

Requirements for the program included having a U.S.-based supporter, passing security vetting, and meeting other criteria. The “Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support” form, which was a crucial component of meeting these requirements, has been taken down from the website.

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has lifted restrictions on expedited removal and authorized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to review the parole status of migrants, potentially leading to changes in their parole status.

A memo obtained by Fox News Digital highlighted that parole is considered a positive exercise of enforcement discretion and not a right that every alien is entitled to. The Trump administration has emphasized that parole should not be viewed as an admission of the alien’s status.

Prior to Trump’s reelection, the CHNV program was temporarily halted due to allegations of fraud. An internal review was initiated, prompting the DHS to implement enhanced vetting measures for U.S.-based supporters in August 2024.

ICE and CBP officials have been instructed to review and revise parole-related policies and procedures to ensure compliance with existing statutes. They are also tasked with developing a plan to phase out any outdated or non-compliant protocols.

In conclusion, the CHNV parole program has been discontinued, and the USCIS website no longer accepts forms related to it. The DHS is working to review and update parole-related policies, with a focus on enhancing security measures and ensuring compliance with legal requirements.