Republicans demand answers on Biden's parole program accountability

In the United States, House Republicans, led by Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, are urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to disclose information about the Biden administration's immigration parole program. Concerns have arisen over a lack of transparency regarding the admissions of immigrants under this program, with reports indicating that over 531,000 immigrants were admitted during Biden's term, significantly higher than previous administrations' totals. This inquiry follows multiple requests for information from the Committee since April 2023 and includes a subpoena issued in August 2023, which the DHS has reportedly failed to comply with. The investigation has prompted Republicans to highlight numerous issues surrounding the Biden administration's approach to immigration, particularly the parole system, which allows individuals to be temporarily admitted to the U.S. for two years. The Committee is seeking specific data regarding the number of immigrants admitted, their current immigration status, and the organizations that sponsored their applications. A looming deadline of April 23 compels the DHS to submit the requested documents to the Committee. Republicans have expressed that the current lack of oversight has led to significant challenges in understanding the fiscal impacts of the Biden administration's policies. They claim the parole program has created avenues for numerous inadmissible individuals to enter the country without adequate monitoring. Notably, an additional 936,500 applicants were reportedly waiting to be paroled, although it remains unclear how many were ultimately accepted. Concerns regarding the system's integrity have been amplified since the inception of the CBP One app, designed to facilitate the parole process by allowing immigrants to schedule appointments with customs officers. This system has faced criticism for allegedly enabling fraudulent claims, including instances where deceased sponsors' Social Security numbers were submitted on applications. The app's functions have been suspended following a surge in claims of misuse by cartels that exploited geographic boundaries, leading to overwhelming demand and significant delays in processing appointments for legitimate applicants. As the hearings and investigations progress, Republicans remain focused on uncovering the extent of the perceived failures in Biden's border policies and the resultant immigration landscape.