IMMIGRATION-USA: US terminates Filipino veterans parole program

The USCIS said the termination of the programs is also to better ensure that parole is used only on a case-by-case basis, consistent with the law.

Parole is a process that allows foreign nationals to temporarily enter or remain in the United States, including those who are otherwise inadmissible. Under both of these categorical parole programs, individuals with approved family-based immigrant petitions have been authorized to enter and work in the US while waiting for their green card to become available.

The USCIS said the decision to end these parole programs followed an extensive review to better ensure that parole authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act is exercised on a case-by-case basis when there is a significant public benefit or urgent humanitarian reason.

Acting USCIS director Ken Cuccinelli said the move is “consistent with the rules that apply to the rest of the world.”

“Under these categorical parole programs, individuals have been able to skip the line and bypass the proper channels established by Congress,” Cuccinelli said.

“With the termination of these programs, these individuals will no longer be permitted to wait in the United States for their family-based green card to become available,” he said.

Cuccinelli said parole is to be used on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.

“USCIS is committed to exercising this limited authority in a manner that preserves the integrity of our immigration system and does not encourage aliens to unlawfully enter the United States,” he added.

While USCIS begins the process to terminate the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole and Haitian Family Reunification Parole programs, the agency continues to review all remaining categorical parole programs.

Current parolees will maintain their current period of parole until its expiration, unless it is otherwise terminated. USCIS will also process all pending cases to completion. Pia Lee-Brago / The Philippine Star