New Policies May Allow Some Immigrants to the U.S. to Receive Parole

 Posted on February 08, 2023 in Immigration

For those who are looking to immigrate to the United States or for those who are living in the U.S. and seeking to help their loved ones come to the country, it can seem like immigration laws and policies are constantly in flux. With tens of thousands of people looking to enter the U.S. each month and many more attempting to cross the border without authorization or being detained and deported by immigration officials, it can be difficult to determine the rules that must be followed and the issues that could prevent a person from entering or remaining in the United States. However, this process may soon change for certain immigrants due to new policies being put in place by the administration of President Joe Biden.

Options for Parole for Certain Immigrants

Over the past few years, millions of immigrants have been detained, deported, or expelled from the United States after entering the country without authorization. In an attempt to help reduce these numbers and allow people from countries with potentially dangerous conditions to seek safety in the U.S., the Biden administration is implementing a new policy that will allow some immigrants to receive parole. This policy will apply to people from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

Under the new policy, the United States will accept up to 30,000 people each month from these countries. When parole is granted to a person, they will have authorization to travel to and from the United States and work for employers in the U.S. for two years. To be eligible for parole, a person must meet the following criteria:

• They must currently be outside of the United States.

• They must be a citizen or national of Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, or Nicaragua, or they must be traveling with an immediate family member who is a national of one of these countries.

• They must have sponsorship from a supporter in the United States. The sponsor must submit an Affidavit of Support to demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to support the parolee. Eligible supporters may include U.S. citizens, Green Card holders, asylees, refugees, other parolees, immigrants who have been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or non-immigrants who have maintained their lawful status in the United States.

• They must pass a background check and national security screening.

• They must not have been subject to a deportation order within the previous five years or be considered inadmissible because of a previous deportation. Attempting to enter the U.S. without authorization after the implementation of this policy will also prevent a person from receiving parole.

• They must have a valid passport.

• They must be able to pay or otherwise arrange for their own airfare into the United States.

• They must comply with any other applicable requirements, including receiving the proper vaccinations and following other public health guidelines.

• They must demonstrate that they are eligible for parole based on urgent humanitarian reasons (including the likelihood that they or their family members will suffer harm if they are forced to return to their country of origin) or because their entry to the U.S. would provide a significant public benefit.

With this new policy, the Biden administration is hoping to reduce the number of people who attempt to cross into the United States from Mexico without authorization. By allowing more people to receive parole that will allow them to live and work in the U.S., this policy is intended to help prevent immigrants from suffering harm when they are expelled from the United States into Mexico or returned to their countries of origin.

Contact Our Illinois Immigration Lawyers

If you want to know more about your options for immigration under the new policy or other immigration laws, Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices can answer your questions and ensure that you follow the correct procedures. Whether you are looking to sponsor a loved one for immigration, avoid deportation, or address issues related to visas or Green Cards, our DuPage County immigration attorneys can provide the legal help you need. Contact us at 630-932-9100 to set up a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.uscis.gov/CHNV

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/01/biden-new-immigration-policy.html 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/01/25/us-immigration-parole/