What is the new immigration program?
The White House announced that it is working on a new immigration program aimed at alleviating the large flow of Venezuelan immigrants crossing the border on a daily basis. Similar to what was established for Ukraine after the war, this program is aimed at paving the way for legal migration for people arriving from Venezuela in search of a better life.
More than 20,000 people would benefit from the Venezuela program, but at the same time, thousands more would be sent to Mexico if they entered the United States illegally.
This new immigration program results from the border crisis and the political agenda agreed upon by the U.S. and Mexican governments. At Jaskot Law, we bring you all the details about it.
What are the reasons for this new Venezuela program?
As mentioned above, this new immigration program is the result of an agreement between Mexico and the United States. The main objective is to reduce the number of Venezuelan immigrants crossing the border between the two countries, which is currently on the rise due to Venezuela’s critical economic and political crises. Of all encounters between the border patrol and undocumented immigrants, 35% correspond to Venezuelan immigrants.
In the first place, what both governments want is to guarantee the legality of those who cross the border. That is, they will allow parole entry to those migrants who have a sponsor in the United States able to guarantee their financial support. In addition, they must pass a national security background check and have all immunizations completed.
The same happens with the immigration program for Ukrainian immigrants installed earlier this year, which grants a period of temporary stay (“parole”) for two years. The difference, however, lies in the fact that this Venezuelan program is even more limited.
Who can become beneficiaries of this program?
As the first requirement to be a beneficiary of the new program, the immigrant must have a sponsor living in the United States who is able to provide financial support in the country (thus preventing the immigrant from becoming a “public charge”). The sponsor must have U.S. legal status or parole, or be a beneficiary of deferred action or deferred enforced departure (DED).
On the other hand, those who can access the program are both the program beneficiaries themselves and their immediate family members. That is, your spouse and your unmarried children under 21 years of age.
What do I have to do to access this benefit?
Interested parties should have their sponsor complete and submit Form I–134 to USCIS on their behalf. Besides, beneficiaries must meet the following requirements:
- Having lived in the country established as a beneficiary by the U.S. government during the determined date of the program.
- Being citizens and having a passport of that country.
- Not being a citizen of that country, but being an immediate relative of a citizen receiving the humanitarian benefit.
- Having a sponsor who properly filed Form I-134 with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Being approved as suitable for the benefit by the USCIS, and having passed all biographic and biometric security checks.
Little is known about the new plan for Venezuelan immigrants, and the whole community is waiting for more details. At Jaskot Law, we will keep you informed and up to date on future modifications and developments.
