Trump Should Categorically Rescind All Categorical Parole Programs

 The article discusses the misuse of parole power by the executive branch in immigration, criticizing its origins and ongoing abuses that undermine congressional authority.

1. Historical Context: The parole power was established in 1952 by Congress, allowing the Attorney General to permit certain aliens temporary entry into the U. S. primarily for emergencies or public interest.

2. Abuse of Power: Over the years, the application of this power expanded beyond its original intention, starting with President Eisenhower in 1956, who allowed mass entry of Hungarian refugees. This trend continued with subsequent administrations, including President Carter, who used parole during the Cuban refugee crisis, circumventing the 1980 Refugee Act that aimed to limit such executive authority.

3. Legislative Amendments: The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 aimed to restrict the parole authority, stating it should only be used on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons. Despite this intention, the executive branch has repeatedly ignored these limitations.

4. Current Administration's Actions: Under President Biden, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas was accused of excessively using parole to allow large groups of inadmissible aliens from various countries to enter the U. S. , creating categorical programs without congressional approval. This misuse led to the impeachment of Mayorkas for exceeding his parole authority. The scale of this abuse was highlighted by data showing over 810,000 aliens granted parole in FY 2023 alone through programs that were deemed unlawful.

5. Congressional Responsibility: The article calls for President Trump to eliminate all categorical parole programs, reinforcing that such powers should not be used to bypass congressional immigration laws. It emphasizes the need for Congress to enact laws to prevent future misuse and outlines concerns about future administrations potentially resuming or escalating such abuses.

The abuse of parole power has evolved from a limited privilege to a tool for executive overreach, violating the constitutional separation of powers. There is a pressing need for legislative action to clarify and restrict the use of parole to restore integrity to the immigration system. Congress must take responsibility and implement changes to prevent further misuse by future administrations.

https://cis.org/Fishman/Trump-Should-Categorically-Rescind-All-Categorical-Parole-Programs