The Biden administration is considering reviving a U.S. program that allows migrants to apply for asylum from their home countries, despite concerns of potential mass fraud. The program was paused last month for a review of supporter applications, which are individuals in the U.S. vouching for migrants financially. An internal DHS report found almost 101,000 applications were filed by 3,218 serial sponsors, raising red flags of potential fraud, such as repeated use of the same addresses, Social Security numbers, and phone numbers.
Concerns about human trafficking have also been raised due to small numbers of sponsors for large groups of people. When the program resumes, applications for sponsors will be manually vetted in small batches with enhanced procedures for vetting. The administration believes that reviving the program will deter migrants from crossing the border illegally. The review of the nearly 101,000 sponsor applications is ongoing, with employees at USCIS reviewing the suspect applications and referring any suspected fraud for further investigation.
So far, six sponsor applications have been turned over to investigators at Homeland Security Investigations for potential criminal immigration fraud. More than 2.6 million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have applied for entry through the program. Over 530,000 migrants had been authorized to travel to the U.S. under the program. The report does not specify how many of the successful applicants were brought into the U.S. with the help of the serial sponsors. Migrants apply online and list their information as well as that of sponsors who agree to support them.
An internal fraud detection unit in USCIS identified red flags in the program, such as repeated use of Social Security numbers, duplicate phone numbers, and suspicious physical addresses. Some sponsors used the same addresses for multiple applications, including addresses that matched commercial warehouses or storage units. IP addresses associated with the applications also raised concerns, with some tied to locations outside the U.S. The report noted a concerning trend where more females were being sponsored, including minors, compared to men, potentially indicating suspicious activity.
Despite concerns of potential fraud, a DHS spokesperson stated that the agency has not identified issues related to the screening and vetting of the immigrants themselves. DHS has review mechanisms in place to detect and prevent fraud in immigration processes, and ICE will investigate and prosecute cases of fraud. The decision to resume the program is driven by the administration’s belief that it will deter illegal border crossings. The ongoing review of sponsor applications will continue to ensure the integrity of the program and prevent fraudulent activity.
