Refugee Congress raises concerns about Biden Administration’s new plan to extend temporary parole to Venezuelans, expand Title 42
For Immediate Release, October 13, 2022
On October 12, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the creation of a new humanitarian parole program that would allow 24,000 Venezuelans to seek temporary residence in the United States, provided they have someone to sponsor them and can travel to the United States by plane, using a valid passport. At the same time, DHS announced that it will begin expelling all Venezuelans who do not apply for admission in advance through this program back to Mexico under Title 42.
Refugee Congress welcomes the effort to expand access to protection for Venezuelans fleeing persecution, but is gravely concerned about the details of this plan.
Title 42 is a Trump-era policy that expels people who are seeking asylum at the U.S. border, sending them back to danger under the guise of public health needs. Refugee Congress praised the Biden Administration for announcing their intention to end this harmful and ineffective policy earlier this year and has supported their efforts to do so despite numerous ongoing legal challenges. We are gravely disturbed to learn that the Administration is now expanding the use of this policy under this plan, particularly given President Biden’s recent announcement that “the pandemic is over.”
All Venezuelans seeking protection in the United States should be received with dignity and afforded due process. However, this plan would extend protection only to those Venezuelans with the means to secure sponsorship, navigate the bureaucratic parole application process, and travel by flight to a U.S. airport. This is unjust and counter to the principles of the U.S. constitution.
“Asylum should be offered to all people escaping persecution in their country without discrimination and no one should be left behind,” said Ali Aljundi, Refugee Congress’ Membership Engagement and Leadership Development Manager.
Refugee Congress is also deeply concerned about the Biden Administration’s continued use of temporary parole programs in the place of the mainstream U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (URSAP). This program, along with similar programs for Ukrainians and Afghans, only offers short-term protection, after which parolees must apply for permanent residency through the deeply backlogged asylum process. Instead, the administration should continue to invest in and rebuild the USRAP, which can provide long-term security not only for Venezuelans, but for refugees from across the globe who have long been languishing in the U.S. resettlement pipeline.
“Despite all the challenges and obstacles that we witness every day in the refugee crisis globally– security, shelter, safety and food– at end of the day, we hope, believe in, and rely on the USRAP,” said Emma Yaaka, Refugee Congress Delegate from Illinois. “Restructuring and rebuilding USRAP is the way to maintain and rescue the lives of those in danger.”
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Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by former refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants to promote the well-being, integration and dignity of all vulnerable migrants. With delegates across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we use our voices and experiences to inform and influence decision-makers on critical domestic and international issues that affect our communities.
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