This will be the program to accommodate 30,000 immigrants every month in the US at 2:20 am
(CNN) — More than 7,500 migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti have been approved to enter the United States under a program introduced by the Biden administration in early January, which officials credit with a drop in border crossings, according to CNN.
President Joe Biden announced the trinationality program at the White House this month, describing it as a way for migrants fleeing poor conditions at home to instead immigrate to the United States from where they are and make the treacherous journey north to do. The program was based on an existing program for Venezuelans.
However, those who do not apply can be sent back to Mexico if they attempt to cross the United States-Mexico border, which is a difference from the previous protocol.
The ad received mixed reviews from Democratic allies and immigrant advocates, who welcomed a route for immigrants to enter the United States but questioned the extension of Title 42, a pandemic restriction that allows authorities to refuse immigrants.
Previous data suggests migrants are using the program to migrate to the United States rather than illegally crossing the border into Mexico, but numbers remain low due to the hundreds of thousands of migrants moving through the Western Hemisphere.
Data obtained by CNN shows that more than 800 Nicaraguans were eligible to travel, along with around 2,000 Haitians and more than 4,700 Cubans. Applications for all nationalities are still pending and it seems that most people are applying from their home countries.
Since Jan. 5, when the program was announced, more than 1,700 people have entered the United States as part of the process from Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti, according to a Homeland Security official.
The program builds on a similar initiative launched for Venezuelans last fall. More than 26,000 Venezuelans have been approved to enter the United States since October, according to the data.
Up to 30,000 immigrants from Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba can enter the United States monthly through the program. To qualify, immigrants must have a sponsor in the United States and undergo screening and screening.
Encounters with migrants of the four nationalities fell 97% in January compared to December, officials told reporters this week, citing preliminary figures.
Boundary numbers often fluctuate depending on circumstances in the western hemisphere, so it’s unclear how long the downtrend will last. But officials mentioned new measures, such as opening a path for migrants to apply to migrate to the United States and coordinating with Mexico.
This week, Texas Attorney General Paxton, along with 19 other states, argued in a lawsuit that the government failed to go through the rule posting and commenting process before enacting the rule. As a result, states are asking the court to block the program.