Amy Mek
With over 1.3 million migrants legally entering the U.S. through parole programs and the CBP One app—programs critics call a ‘shadow immigration system’—ICE is left managing a staggering 8 million cases, with each officer handling 7,000 cases on average, making effective enforcement nearly impossible and leaving America’s immigration system on the brink of collapse.
Kamala Harris, appointed as the administration’s “border czar,” has overseen immigration policies that have opened the floodgates, with over 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela entering the U.S. legally under the controversial parole programs. Critics warn that these migrants, granted parole for two years, will likely never leave, leading to long-term residence without proper oversight or enforcement. Additionally, these migrants are eligible to apply for work authorization, further complicating enforcement efforts.
Another 813,000 migrants have scheduled appointments using the CBP One app, circumventing illegal border crossings. Critics argue these “lawful pathways” create a shadow immigration system, hiding the true scale of the crisis and overwhelming the immigration system. These numbers, which do not count in Border Patrol data, further obscure the reality of the situation. Harris’s border policies have utterly failed, leaving enforcement agencies overburdened and ill-equipped to address the growing crisis.
The Overburdened CHNV Parole Program
The CHNV parole program, originally intended for migration from crisis-ridden countries, has overwhelmed ICE. Under Kamala Harris’s leadership, the agency is projected to handle over 8 million cases by the end of 2024, with each ICE officer managing an average of 7,000 cases—making effective enforcement impossible. ICE officers are stretched beyond their limits, already responsible for locating and removing aggravated felons, “gotaways,” and those with final deportation orders. Now, they face an even greater task with parolees who overstay their welcome, further straining resources.
Lack of Parole Monitoring: A Dangerous Loophole
Making matters worse, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General report reveals no government agency tracks the expiration of these parole grants, creating a dangerous loophole that will allow many migrants to remain unlawfully in the U.S. This lack of oversight, under Kamala Harris’s watch, effectively guarantees that migrants falling out of legal status will remain in the country without enforcement action. Every ICE source has confirmed they do not have the manpower or resources to locate and deport such a large population of migrants if they overstay these two-year parole grants. Without a solution to this systemic gap, the situation will only worsen.
Kamala Harris’s ‘Open Borders’ Policy in Disguise
Despite these alarming figures, CBP officials, including Acting Commissioner Troy Miller, continue to tout improvements in border security. They claim a 68% drop in illegal encounters along the southwest border in August 2024 compared to the previous year. However, critics argue that the administration is simply shifting migrants from illegal crossings to “legal” entries via parole programs and the CBP One app.
While framed as a lawful alternative, these programs obscure the reality of the border crisis and worsen the situation. By exploiting these “legal pathways,” Kamala Harris’s oversight is rebranding an uncontrolled crisis as a success while leaving enforcement agencies in chaos.
CBP One App: A Backdoor to the U.S.
The CBP One app, used by 813,000 migrants, allows them to enter the U.S. legally, bypassing the risks of illegal crossings. Although the administration frames it as a “safe and humane” solution, critics call it a “backdoor” into the U.S. that opens without proper vetting or enforcement. This app is effectively a fast pass for migrants, allowing them to flood the country without accountability, further complicating the border crisis.
The app enables the administration to avoid counting these migrants in traditional border statistics, hiding the true scope of the crisis. In doing so, Kamala Harris and Biden’s team have built a loophole-laden system, making the U.S. vulnerable to millions of unaccounted-for migrants.
ICE Is Buckling Under Pressure
ICE, already overwhelmed by its current caseload, faces collapse under this influx. The agency, tasked with removing final deportation orders and criminals, now contends with an unmanageable number of parolees overstaying their welcome. With an estimated 8 million cases on the non-detained docket, ICE does not have the resources to track or remove the growing number of illegal residents.
Each ICE officer manages around 7,000 cases, an impossible workload that guarantees enforcement failures. Without significant increases in manpower or resources, this population will likely remain in the U.S. indefinitely.
Impact on Local Communities
The consequences of Kamala Harris’s policies are not limited to border towns but are already rippling through local communities. Public services like healthcare, education, and housing are being stretched thin, and competition in the job market is intensifying. The unchecked migration is making it harder for citizens to access essential services while creating social tension and economic strain.
A Border Policy Built to Fail
Under Harris’s parole programs, the over 1 million migrants allowed into the U.S. are unlikely to leave, even if they fall out of legal status. The American people are being misled. This administration’s policies are transforming the U.S. immigration system into an unmonitored, chaotic process that leaves enforcement agencies powerless and communities vulnerable.
Without major reform or a reversal of Kamala Harris’s dangerously lenient policies, the U.S. immigration system will buckle under the pressure of unchecked migration, and American citizens will continue to pay the price.
Sources: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, PublicNow,
RAIR Foundation
Vlad Tepes
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