Republican Governors Demand Answers on Migrant Flights, Cite Safety and Resource Concerns
by Ali Tucker | Oct 9, 2024
These flights are part of several parole programs initiated by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, with the governors focusing specifically on the CHNV parole program, which fast-tracks migrants from Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, over 530,000 individuals were released into the U.S. under the CHNV parole program in the past year. Additionally, 813,000 foreign nationals from around the world were admitted through a CBP One app. Attorneys general in multiple states have filed lawsuits against these programs, deeming them illegal. The U.S. House even impeached Mayorkas over policies that contributed to the ongoing border crisis.
The 1.3 million individuals released under these programs are part of a larger influx of nearly 14 million illegal border crossers since fiscal year 2021, the highest figure in U.S. history under any administration.
In a letter to Biden and Harris, the governors detailed how the CHNV parole program has negatively impacted their communities, particularly citing the lack of communication about the migrants’ “arrival times, duration of residency, legal status, and location.”
The letter criticized the administration’s handling of the situation, stating that the absence of clear guidance has led to confusion among local officials and the public. Municipal leaders and law enforcement, they said, often rely on media reports and social media to gauge the size and location of incoming migrant populations, making it difficult to assess the strain on already stretched resources like public schools and other government services.
The governors also raised concerns over the well-being of the migrants, arguing that the lack of communication and community engagement has left them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. They claim migrants face skepticism from local communities and often isolate themselves out of fear, creating conditions ripe for human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.
To better protect both the migrants and their citizens, the governors are demanding a full accounting from the administration, including details about the location of each migrant, the vetting process for parolees, information about sponsors, and the monitoring system in place to oversee their safety.
The letter comes on the heels of multiple reports from the DHS Office of Inspector General, which found that the administration failed to properly vet many of the individuals entering the U.S. and had no system to monitor them after release. The OIG also expressed alarm that some migrants without proper identification were being flown on domestic flights. These concerns were echoed by Sen. Ted Cruz, who raised questions about the number of migrants being housed in airports and the potential security risks.
The governors, who include Kay Ivey (AL), Ron DeSantis (FL), Greg Abbott (TX), Brian Kemp (GA), Kristi Noem (SD), Glenn Youngkin (VA), and Sarah Sanders (AR), among others, insist that the administration provide full transparency regarding the migrants’ location and status. They argue that the arrival of foreign nationals in need of state and local services, without prior notice or resources, is unacceptable and demand that the federal government furnish complete information on the matter.
Read the letter from the Governors here.
https://www.rga.org/joint-letter-to-bid ... v-program/
