Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended a controversial policy to allow up to 30,000 migrants to be flown into the U.S. each month as a “key element” of the Biden administration’s border strategy, after it survived a lawsuit.
The policy, which was first announced for Venezuelans in October of 2022, allows a limited number of migrants to fly directly into the U.S. as long as they have not entered illegally, have a sponsor in the U.S. already, and pass certain checks. In January 2023, the program expanded to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans, with the capacity to bring in up to 30,000 people per month.
Despite facing legal challenges from twenty GOP-led states, U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton ruled in favor of the administration, upholding the program. Secretary Mayorkas hailed the ruling as a victory for the administration’s efforts to provide “lawful pathways” for migration and reduce illegal crossings at the border.
However, since the expansion of the program, there have been record encounters at the border, with more than 2.4 million migrant encounters in FY23, a historic high. Republicans have criticized the administration’s border policies, accusing it of creating an open border by increasing releases into the interior and reducing enforcement.
Mayorkas has refuted claims that the border is open and urged migrants to use legal pathways rather than entering illegally. The administration is calling for more funding and immigration reform from Congress to address the ongoing crisis.
As the debate over immigration policies continues, the Biden administration remains committed to providing safe and orderly pathways for migrants while addressing the challenges at the border.
