Republicans have launched a legislative blitz to end Biden-era parole programs that they say allowed millions of unvetted migrants into the U.S., escalating the immigration war ahead of the 2024 election.
At a Glance
- A new GOP bill would cap parole-based admissions at 3,000 annually starting FY2029
- Nearly 2.8 million migrants have entered the U.S. under parole since Biden took office
- The bill would block parole for nationals from Iran, North Korea, Russia, Cuba, and Syria
- The measure is part of a $151.3 billion Republican border security package
- A recent Supreme Court ruling allows DHS to deport parolees as legal challenges continue
The GOP Moves to Close the Border Loophole
House Republicans are aiming to shut down a controversial Biden-era immigration mechanism that’s allowed millions to enter the country outside of traditional vetting channels. The new “Preventing the Abuse of Immigration Parole Act,” introduced by Rep. Addison McDowell of North Carolina, would impose strict caps and country-based restrictions on parole admissions—currently one of the administration’s main pathways for admitting migrants.
Parole, meant for emergency or humanitarian use, has been used to admit over 2.8 million migrants under President Biden. McDowell’s bill would limit future parole to 3,000 cases annually by 2029 and bar individuals from high-risk nations like Syria and Iran. Republicans argue this crackdown is necessary to stem the overwhelming influx at the border and reassert control over who enters the country.
A New Front in the Border Security War
The parole bill is part of a sweeping $151.3 billion border package advanced through reconciliation, allocating $51.6 billion for border wall construction, $45 billion for detention centers, and $5 billion in military aid for enforcement. Republicans see the moment as their best chance in decades to overhaul immigration law without needing Senate Democrats’ votes.
Watch a report: GOP’s Parole Clampdown Gains Steam.
Public frustration over border control has soared, with 2.5 million migrant encounters reported in FY2023. GOP lawmakers frame this not just as a policy issue, but a national security threat. “When vetting is ignored and the floodgates are opened,” McDowell said, “it’s hard to believe it wasn’t deliberate.”
Court Decisions and 2024 Implications
The Supreme Court recently handed the GOP a legal win by allowing DHS to deport parolees from the controversial CHNV program—Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—while legal challenges proceed. Roughly 500,000 migrants have entered under this scheme alone. DHS officials welcomed the ruling, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin declaring: “The Biden Administration lied to America.”
With bipartisan immigration reform long stalled, Republicans are seizing the moment. Senate GOP leaders argue that this may be their last realistic shot to legislate before the 2024 election. As Rep. McDowell put it, “closing the side door” to immigration isn’t just about politics—it’s about restoring sovereignty.
