Of the 14 million illegal border crossers reported under the Biden-Harris administration, more than 3 million are from four countries whose citizens were granted expanded entry through a parole program created by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV).
At least 2,496,080 illegal border crossers from CHNV countries were reported under the Biden-Harris administration, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. The data represents fiscal years 2021-2024, excluding the first three months of fiscal 2021 under the previous administration. The federal fiscal year is from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
When including the 531,000 released into the country through CHNV, the total increases to at least 3,027,080 from these four countries. The total excludes gotaways, those who illegally entered and evaded capture, those released into the country through the CBP One App and other parole programs Mayorkas created, and the tens of thousands of Haitians and Cubans repatriated by the U.S. Coast Guard, The Center Square reported.
Mayorkas argues the CHNV and other parole programs are legal and necessary; federal judges have ruled they aren’t. Republican members of Congress argue they’re illegal and cited them as evidence to impeach Mayorkas in February. The papers CHNV foreign nationals and other illegal border crossers receive from Department of Homeland Security agencies state they are illegal aliens, are unlawfully present in the U.S., and require them to report to an immigration judge years into the future, The Center Square first reported.
The U.S. State Department designated two of four CHNV countries, Cuba and Nicaragua, as Countries of Particular Concern for “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.” These include “torture, prolonged detention without charges, forced disappearance, or other flagrant denial of life, liberty, or security of persons.” Cuba is also designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
More than 786,000 Cuban illegal border crossers
Under the Biden-Harris administration, the greatest number of Cuban illegal border crossers was reported nationwide in U.S. history of more than 786,000.
The most were reported in fiscal 2022 of 224,607, followed by 217,615 in fiscal 2024, 200,287 in fiscal 2023, and 33,876 in nine months in fiscal 2021.
At least 110,000 inadmissable Cubans were released into the U.S. through a CHNV parole program, according to CBP data.
Republican members of Congress have demanded answers about Chinese spies operating out of Cuba targeting Americans, nonimmigrant visas expanded to Cubans that Republican U.S. senators say “endanger our national security,” inadequate vetting of diplomats from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, among other concerns.
Nearly 700,000 Haitian illegal border crossers
Under the Biden-Harris administration, the greatest number of Haitian illegal border crossers was reported nationwide in U.S. history of nearly 700,000.
The greatest number was reported in fiscal 2024 of 220,798, followed by 163,781 in fiscal 2023, 56,596 in fiscal 2022, and 47,478 in nine months in fiscal 2021.
At least 211,000 inadmissable Haitians were released into the U.S. through CHNV.
As Haitians entered the country, local communities nationwide struggled with increased crime and costs they argue aren’t sustainable and negatively impact them, The Center Square reported.
More than 536,000 Nicaraguan illegal border crossers
Under the Biden-Harris administration, the greatest number of Nicaraguan illegal border crossers was reported nationwide in U.S. history of more than 536,000.
The greatest number was reported in fiscal 2022 of 164,600, followed by 138,729 in fiscal 2023, 91,049 in fiscal 2024, and 49,254 in nine months in fiscal 2021, according to the data.
At least 93,000 inadmissable Nicaraguans were released into the U.S. through CHNV.
The Center Square first reported on migrant warfare driving the border crisis, including the policies of Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua. Policy makers have said that Cuba and Haiti have used migrant warfare tactics against the U.S. for decades. Foreign policy experts argue Nicaraguan visa policies also facilitated weaponized migration, NPR reported.
More than one million Venezuelan illegal border crossers
Under the Biden-Harris administration, the greatest number of Venezuelan illegal border crossers was reported nationwide in U.S. history of nearly one million.
The greatest number was 334,914 in fiscal 2023, followed by 313,496 in fiscal 2024, 189,520 in fiscal 2022, and 49,477 in nine months in fiscal 2021, according to the data.
At least 117,000 inadmissable Venezuelans were released into the U.S. through CHNV.
As Venezuelans entered the country, so also did Venezuelan prison gang members from Tren De Aragua, a federally designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Law enforcement officers nationwide are arresting them for committing violent crimes against Americans, The Center Square reported.
Combined, the more than 3 million illegal border crossers from CHNV countries total more than the individual populations of 17 states.
They are also the equivalent to more than 67 U.S. Army Corps, with 45,000 soldiers in a corps, and nearly quadruple the number of U.S. troops who served in Afghanistan for 20 years.
