Florida Republican Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar and Carlos A. Giménez they sent a letter Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, requesting additional information about the government’s “new border control measures” and their implications for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans seeking to enter the United States, as well as security state nationals of the country
Lawmakers said they were concerned about “the abrupt and seemingly indiscriminate immigration policy changes and their impact” by the Biden administration, and thus requested information on the expected impact of these changes, how they were implemented, and the reasons for them public policy for her.
Program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. (USCIS.gov)
The new border control measures, announced Jan. 5, stipulate that up to 30,000 people per month come to the United States from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who have a suitable sponsor and who pass investigations and background checks can two years and get a work permit.
In this regard, the Cuban-US Congressmen raise the following questions in the letter to Mayorkas:
- Why did the government set the arbitrary limit of 30,000? How was this number determined?
- How is this limitation implemented?
- Will the 30,000 be divided equally among the nationals of the four countries?
- If 30,000 are not divided equally, how is that number divided among the four nationalities?
- Why are only Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans subject to a limit?
- After reaching the monthly limit, how will the rest of arrivals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela be taken care of? Will that motivate them to stay on the border until next month?
- Is the number of Cuban and Haitian citizens intercepted at sea considered part of this limit?
- Following this announcement, will there be new political implications for Cuban and Haitian citizens intercepted at sea?
In the letter, lawmakers also questioned the fact that the new policy says those who pass the background check can enter the United States on a two-year work permit.
- How long does the investigation and background check take?
- Will these potential entrants be detained while awaiting the vetting and background check process?
- How will the administration properly investigate these individuals when many do not have accurate documentation or may have had their records destroyed?
- How will the administration address the current backlog of work permits for those already in process?
- Will these new work permit opportunities take precedence over those already in process?
- Is this measure available to people who received protection in other states?
The new border policy also states that “persons irregularly crossing the border of Panama, Mexico or the United States after the date of this announcement will not be eligible for the parole process and will be subject to expulsion to Mexico, which will accept the return of 30,000 people per month from these four countries not using these new routes”.
On this last point, the legislature requires the following:
- How does the administration determine whether someone entered the country “irregularly” under this pronouncement?
- What is the government’s agreement with Mexico on how people subject to deportation are treated in that country?
- What happens to those subject to deportation when the limit of 30,000 monthly deportations to Mexico is reached?
- Has Mexico refused to take in more than 30,000 displaced people?
- Will those who “irregularly” cross the 30,000 mark be arrested in the United States or deported to a third country?
This Wednesday, the Biden administration reported that the first Cuban citizens have already been admitted to the new humanitarian parole program allowing entry onto North American soil: “These people will now benefit from legal, safe and orderly migration, rather than irregular and dangerous ones routes to try,” the US Embassy in Havana said on Twitter.
In a further statement, the diplomatic headquarters reiterated the words of the US President when announcing the measure last Friday: “Do not come to the border. Stay where you are” and complete the online application process.
He also urged migrants to protect their passports and be alert to possible scams related to the implementation of this measure.
These changes in United States immigration policy, the congressmen concluded in their letter, “raise several concerns and unanswered questions” about the consequences for those attempting to enter the country from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, as well as for those who do not national security of the United States.