The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it will resume processing travel authorizations for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who seek to enter the United States with the help of a sponsor. The program had been paused in July after an internal investigation revealed that over 100,000 applicants were linked to just 3,200 U.S.-based sponsors, raising concerns about potential fraud and human trafficking.
The suspension followed a report that flagged the large number of applications backed by a small group of “serial sponsors,” prompting critics to argue that this could indicate exploitation or illegal activity. NBC News had previously reported that DHS was preparing to restart the program despite having nearly 30,000 applications still under review. The Biden administration has pushed for its resumption, believing the program helps reduce illegal border crossings by offering a legal pathway for migrants.
DHS confirmed that the reactivated program will include enhanced vetting measures aimed at improving oversight and preventing fraud. These new measures will involve closer scrutiny of sponsors’ financial records, criminal backgrounds, and filing patterns. Additionally, sponsors will now be required to provide fingerprints, and serial sponsors who fail to meet financial qualifications or are suspected of exploiting the system will be barred from participating.
A DHS official noted that sponsors found charging migrants for sponsorship will be referred to law enforcement for possible prosecution. Early concerns about sponsors selling their services to migrants surfaced soon after the program’s launch in January 2023, raising alarm about potential exploitation. The DHS stressed that, so far, all migrants admitted through the program have undergone rigorous screening without issues being flagged.
The internal investigation that led to the program’s temporary suspension highlighted thousands of suspicious applications. These included multiple sponsors sharing the same street addresses, phone numbers, or internet protocol addresses, and nearly 600 applications were tied to a commercial warehouse address in Orlando, Florida. There were also instances of repeated use of the same Social Security numbers, some of which belonged to deceased individuals.
Despite these findings, DHS noted that only a small number of sponsors were involved in criminal activity or fraud, with the most serious cases referred to law enforcement for further action.
