US immigration authorities are reportedly investigating potential fraud among beneficiaries of Biden-era immigration programs.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reportedly stopped processing applications from migrants who arrived under special programs created during the Biden administration. This affects tens of thousands of Ukrainians and blocks access to other immigration statuses, according to a Tuesday CBS News report.
The previous administration used presidential parole to admit vulnerable or valuable groups. President Trump ended these programs after taking office. The “Uniting for Ukraine” (U4U) initiative, for example, allowed over 117,000 Ukrainians to enter the US by mid-2023.
A February 14 memo from acting USCIS Deputy Director Andrew Davidson, cited by CBS, imposed an agency-wide “administrative pause” on all “pending benefit requests” from individuals admitted under U4U and similar programs for Latin Americans and Caribbean nationals.
These programs required a US sponsor and typically provided temporary work and residency. Davidson’s order prevents recipients from seeking other legal statuses, including permanent residency (Green Cards), potentially leading to deportation, CBS reported.
Davidson cited concerns about widespread fraud and insufficient vetting for public safety risks. He referenced the Biden administration’s temporary suspension of CHNV, a parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
Davidson stated that investigators found thousands of fraudulent or suspicious CHNV applications, including those with “serial sponsors.” The memo indicated some migrants lacked thorough vetting. The pause is expected to end after a “comprehensive review and evaluation.”
Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign included promises to curb illegal immigration and deport those in the US illegally. Suspending these parole programs is part of his administration’s plan to achieve these goals.