Texas Republicans are criticizing a Biden administration parole program for four nationalities, as it was revealed that three of the top destinations for migrants under the program are in Texas. Official statistics show that during an eight-month period from January through August 2023, roughly 200,000 migrants flew into the U.S. via this program. While the majority landed in Florida, over 10,000 migrants arrived in Texas. The policy was first announced for Venezuelans in October 2022, allowing them to fly or travel directly into the U.S. as long as they met certain criteria. In January 2023, the program was expanded to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans, with up to 30,000 people per month allowed into the U.S.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has defended the program as a “safe and orderly way to reach the United States” that has led to a reduction in the number of migrants from the affected nationalities. The program includes robust security vetting and eligibility criteria. DHS has stated that these processes are publicly available online, and the program is part of the administration’s strategy to reduce irregular migration. However, Republicans argue that the program abuses the limits set by Congress for the use of parole, which is supposed to be reserved for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. The ongoing border crisis has been blamed by the Biden administration on a lack of resources and a broken immigration system in need of reform.
Texas Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn have criticized the parole program for allowing illegal aliens to be flown across the country, pushing the border crisis further into the interior of the country. They argue that the program undermines national security and places a burden on communities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin. With more than 2.4 million migrant encounters at the border last fiscal year, the crisis is having a severe impact on Texas, leading to frustration among residents. Republicans believe that the federal government has abandoned the state, and it will be up to governors to act to secure the border in the absence of federal action.
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas believes that the parole program is another layer in the ongoing border crisis, which has seen millions of migrant encounters in recent years. Roy acknowledges the frustration among Texans at the influx of migrants flying directly into their communities. He believes that the stalemate in Washington over border security is giving governors more responsibility to secure the border. With Speaker Mike Johnson giving away leverage on Ukraine funding to address the border crisis, Roy sees the need for governors and Republicans in Congress to act on border security. The impact of the parole program and the border crisis is expected to fuel anger and frustration among Texans.
