CHC Concerned by Termination of Central American Minors Parole Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Members of Congress sent a letter to Acting Secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to express deep concern and disappointment with the Department of Homeland Security's recent decision to terminate the Central American Minors (CAM) Parole program. This critical, life-saving program has allowed young children to escape violence, persecution and possible death in some of the most dangerous countries in the world. The letter urges asks DHS to reconsider this deeply troubling decision, reinstate the CAM Parole program and allow the 2,700 children that have received conditional approval to be allowed to join their family in the United States.

As Members write in the letter, "It's morally indefensible to create fear and confusion in children's lives. After having their cases adjudicated under the CAM parole standard and permitting the children to enter the United States under those terms, the Administration now intends to ask these children to apply for protection under a different legal standard."

The letter was signed by: CHC Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), CHC First Vice Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20), CHC Second Vice Chair Ruben Gallego (NM-07), CHC Freshman Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), CHC Latin America and Foreign Affairs Task Force Chair Norma J. Torres (CA-35), CHC Immigration and Border Issues Task Force Chair Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04), Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Representative Darren Soto (FL-09), Representative Ruben J. Kihuen (NV-04), Representative J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Representative Juan Vargas (CA-51), Representative Albio Sires (NJ-08), Representative Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Representative Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Representative Jim McGovern (MA-02).

August 28, 2017

Acting Secretary Elaine C. Duke

Department of Homeland Security

3801 Nebraska Ave. NW

Washington, D.C. 20016

Dear Acting Secretary Duke:

We write to express deep concern and disappointment with the Department of Homeland Security's recent decision to terminate the Central American Minors (CAM) Parole program. This lifesaving program, though very specialized and selective, has been critically helpful in providing children in danger of violence or death in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala a pathway to lawfully enter the United States to reunite with a lawfully-present parent.

The program, implemented in November 2014 by the Obama administration, was enacted in response to the 2014 humanitarian crisis in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, which saw tens of thousands of unaccompanied children arriving in the U.S. seeking asylum. Unfortunately, the factors that drove these children and young adults to escape their home countries have not abated. In 2017, the shocking degree of violence and death in these countries continues, with Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador reporting some of the highest homicide rates in the world and having several cities listed as the most dangerous in the world.

In order for these children to qualify for the CAM Parole program, they must undergo an extensive application and review process that includes DNA testing, interviews with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer and multiple background checks to determine if the child is eligible. The program has allowed 1,500 children to be paroled into the United States but their future remains uncertain given the decision to terminate this program.

It's morally indefensible to create fear and confusion in children's lives. After having their cases adjudicated under the CAM parole standard and permitting the children to enter the United States under those terms, the Administration now intends to ask these children to apply for protection under a different legal standard. We are concerned that these children will be put at risk of deportation when their parole expires; forcing these children to return to the dangerous countries they fled.

Furthermore, another 2,700 children had received conditional approval to join their parents in the United States. This approval has now been withdrawn. We now fear that the termination of this program will force these vulnerable, desperate children to make the much more dangerous and deadly trek to the United States using human smugglers and traffickers– a practice the administration has stated they want to dismantle.

Our nation serves as a beacon of hope for those escaping violence, persecution and death. Tragically, despite efforts from the United States and work by these nations, extreme violence in these three countries persists. The United States should not turn its back on children and other vulnerable communities seeking protection and survival. It is critical that DHS preserve refugee programs that are already in place that help vulnerable individuals from these nations undergo a fair and comprehensive vetting process to relocate to the United States.

We ask DHS to reconsider this deeply troubling decision, reinstate the CAM Parole program and allow the 2,700 children that have received conditional approval to be allowed to join their family in the United States. Furthermore, we ask that DHS provide CHC with a detailed explanation on the type of analysis that was conducted to determine the CAM Parole program should be terminated.

We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter. Please contact CHC Executive Director Alma Acosta at alma.acosta@mail.house.gov if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

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