Reports: Biden administration working on humanitarian parole program for Venezuelan migrants


In an attempt to deter Venezuelans from illegally crossing the southern border, the Biden administration is looking into creating a humanitarian parole program similar to one now in place for Ukrainians, two officials familiar with the matter told The New York Times on Tuesday.
Over the last decade, an estimated 6.8 million Venezuelans have fled the country due to economic and political instability, poverty, and a lack of essentials like food and medicine. While many are settling in South American countries, other Venezuelans are making the long and dangerous trek to the U.S.; from October 2021 through August, more than 150,000 Venezuelans have been apprehended at the southern border.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, the Biden administration launched Uniting for Ukraine, a program that allows a sponsor in the U.S. to vouch for a Ukrainian refugee and agree to provide them with financial support while they are in the country. Participating Ukrainians are allowed to stay in the U.S. temporarily, for up to two years.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Under the proposed plan for Venezuelans, which is not yet finalized, migrants who have a sponsor inside the U.S. and arrive at an official port of entry will not be turned away, the Times reports, while those who cross the southern border illegally will be expelled to Mexico as part of the Title 42 public health authority. As it is now, because Washington does not have formal diplomatic relations with Caracas, most Venezuelan migrants are receiving permission to stay in the U.S. on a temporary basis before going through deportation proceedings, which can take years. These migrants are monitored via GPS ankle monitors, telephones, and apps.
Immigration advocates have been asking the Biden administration to come up with a streamlined process that makes it easier for vulnerable Venezuelans to enter the U.S. "We do find that a lack of coordination leads to more migrants being exploited," a senior administration official told CNN. "There's consensus that there's value in us working more closely and trying to synchronize our policies."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
Are inflatable costumes and naked bike rides helping or hurting ICE protests?
Talking Points Trump administration efforts to portray Portland and Chicago as dystopian war zones have been met with dancing frogs, bare butts and a growing movement to mock MAGA doomsaying