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Former U.S. President and current Republican candidate Donald Trump has intensified his focus on immigration, promising to dismantle key programs introduced under President Joe Biden’s administration. In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump vowed to eliminate the humanitarian parole program, which grants temporary legal status and work permits to migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti.
The humanitarian parole program, established in late 2022, allows up to 30,000 migrants from these four nations to enter the U.S. legally each month, provided they have a U.S.-based sponsor with legal status and sufficient financial resources. Beneficiaries are given a two-year work permit, but Trump claims that the program is harmful to the U.S., characterizing it as a mechanism for admitting “illegal immigrants.”
Trump also signaled his intent to shut down the CBP One mobile application, which is used by migrants to schedule appointments at U.S. border points. He criticized the app and the parole program, calling the latter “worse” because it permits air travel for beneficiaries. He argued that individuals granted parole status should not be considered legal migrants, despite their two-year authorization to stay and work in the U.S.
The parole program was part of a broader initiative by the Biden administration to address rising migration numbers while attempting to reduce the flow of undocumented migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Since its implementation, over 530,000 people have entered the U.S. legally through the program.
Trump’s remarks come as he continues to place immigration at the center of his campaign platform for the 2024 presidential election, scheduled for November. His rhetoric on the issue has escalated, drawing criticism from opponents who accuse him of using misinformation to stoke fears about immigration.
Biden’s approach to migration, including humanitarian parole, aims to provide legal pathways for migrants fleeing instability in their home countries while imposing stricter controls on undocumented migration. However, Trump’s proposed reversal signals a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy if he is re-elected.
