New Immigration Law Proposed
A new legislation is set to limit the annual number of immigrant paroles allowed in the U.S. Under the “Preventing Abuse under the Immigrant Parole Act,” the introduction of a cap will restrict admissions to 3,000 individuals yearly starting in 2029.
The bill outlines that parole must be reviewed “case-by-case” for those attempting to enter the country. Additionally, individuals from “countries of concern” like Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, and Russia will require special authorization from the State Department to be granted parole.
During a statement on Wednesday, Addison McDowell, the bill’s sponsor, criticized what he views as the misuse of parole by the current administration, stating it poses significant national security risks. “When the review procedure is ignored… it raises red flags about intent,” he remarked.
This initiative follows findings from the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee that scrutinized the parole program’s effectiveness. The bill also reflects ongoing conversations about former DHS Executive Director Alejandro Mayorkas and immigration policies from the Biden administration.
The text of the bill asserts that “systematic abuse of parole” by individuals outside the U.S. has threatened national security and needs to be curtailed to prevent future misuse.
Interestingly, around 2.8 million individuals have entered under the previous parole program initiated by the Trump administration, which would now come to an end. Recently, the Supreme Court’s stay indicates that the Department of Homeland Security may ultimately be able to end the CHNV parole program.
In a recent statement, DHS Deputy Director Tricia McLaughlin argued that the Biden administration has misled the public, allowing over half a million foreign individuals to enter the U.S. under these parole programs, which she believes undermines opportunities for American workers.
The proposal coincides with the House passing a settlement bill, which includes increased funding for immigration enforcement. It is now awaiting further action in the Senate before potentially reaching the President’s desk.
