Biden Administration Restarts Controversial Immigration Programme

The Biden administration has resumed an immigration programme for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, adding more rigorous vetting of US-based financial sponsors following fraud concerns. The program, paused earlier this month, aims to expand legal pathways for entry while restricting illegal border crossings. Over 520,000 migrants have participated since January 2023.

The Biden administration has restarted its immigration programme that allows migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to come to the United States, following the inclusion of additional vetting for US-based financial sponsors amid fraud concerns.

The Department of Homeland Security had previously suspended the program earlier this month for an internal review, which found no widespread fraud among sponsors. The new procedures are aimed at strengthening the integrity of the process and protecting against beneficiary exploitation.

Launched in January 2023, the program is a key element of the administration's strategy to create legal entry pathways and curtail illegal border crossings. The programme allows up to 30,000 people from the specified countries per month, provided they have financial sponsors in the US who will vouch for them. Critics, mainly Republicans, argue the policy subverts existing immigration laws.

(With inputs from agencies.)