U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) recently joined several Senate colleagues in calling for the cessation of the Biden administration's parole program that has led to nationwide controversy surrounding a massive influx of specifically Haitian immigration.
The issue of massive Haitian immigration has become a national political talking point in recent months, even gaining stage time in the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The influx is due to the Biden administration's Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) Parole Program. On Jan. 5, 2023, the administration announced its intent to provide "safe and orderly pathways to the United States" for up to 30,000 nationals from the applicable countries.
Since then, residents across the country have complained of the surge and its negative impact on their communities. The issue has even reached Alabama after several communities have expressed concern over a steady increase in Haitian immigrants, especially in rural areas like Sylacauga with stretched-thin resources.
SEE: 'This is our city!' Sylacauga citizens shut down for questioning influx of Haitian migrants
In response, Britt and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined 15 other senators in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, calling on them to end the Biden administration's CHNV program.
Britt Letter. by Craig Monger on Scribd
It continues, "This program was intended to provide a pathway, not authorized by Congress, for unauthorized individuals from these four nations to enter our country. However, a new internal U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) report obtained by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) reveals severe and systemic flaws that jeopardize our national security and public safety."
The senators claim the CHNV program clearly violates federal law and list the "catastrophic failures" of the program, including incentivizing illegal migration, importing gang members and other dangerous, violent criminals into the country, and evidence that tens of thousands of aliens were admitted under fraudulent applications. The letter also demands enhanced border security and immigration enforcement, a comprehensive investigation of the failures associated with the program and congressional oversight.
"In response to mounting evidence and growing criticism, the Biden administration decided to temporarily halt the CHNV Parole Program in mid-July 'out of an abundance of caution' so it could undertake a review of supporter applications," the letter continues. "After less than six weeks of pause, the Department of Homeland Security recently restarted the program, which now requires those who wish to sponsor illegal aliens to submit fingerprints for the vetting process. Officials announced plans to more closely review the financial and criminal records of would-be sponsors, and increase scrutiny of repeat sponsors."
"These stop-gap marginal improvements and platitudes to improve the program do not solve the fundamental fraud, failure, and illegality of the CHNV program. This fundamentally-flawed program must be permanently dismantled, and steps must be taken to ensure that future immigration policies are both lawful and effective," it adds.
Britt and Cruz joined U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in sending the letter.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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