The Biden administration is developing plans for Venezuelans with financial sponsors to be granted parole to enter the United States, similar to how Ukrainians have been admitted after Russia's invasion, U.S. Officials said Tuesday.
Four officials offered broad outlines of the plan to deal with a large increase in Venezuelans arriving at the U.S. Border with Mexico. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
Venezuelans who cross the border illegally on land would be immediately returned to Mexico, two officials said. Currently, Mexico only accepts migrants expelled under Title 42 authority — a pandemic-era rule that denies migrants rights to seek asylum and is designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — if they are from Guatemala, El Salvador or Honduras, in addition to Mexico.
Venezuelans who qualify for parole would enter the U.S. At airports, two officials said, mirroring a program introduced in April that allows Ukrainians with financial sponsors to stay for up to two years.
The officials strongly emphasized that discussions were fluid and plans could change. The plans were reported earlier Tuesday by CNN and The New York Times.
While major questions remain — such as how many would be eligible for parole and where Venezuelans would board planes — the discussions demonstrate concern about what has emerged as a major challenge to authorities in the U.S., Mexico and Central America and a test of a hemispheric agreement reached in June in Los Angeles for countries that host migrants to confront issues together.
The Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Tuesday.
Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry said it would release details when talks are final.
“We are in discussions about a new approach that includes migration from Mexico and the northern Central American countries, as well as Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, in an orderly manner and with access to employment options," the ministry said in a statement.
Venezuelans recently surpassed Guatemalans and Hondurans to become the second-largest nationality stopped at the U.S. Border after Mexicans. In August, Venezuelans were stopped 25,349 times, up 43% from 17,652 in July and four times the 6,301 encounters in August 2021, signaling a remarkably sudden demographic shift.