The Biden administration has put a freeze on a controversial program that allows migrants from four different countries to travel into the U.S. over reports of fraud.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that it has temporarily paused the issuing of advance travel authorizations for the program. Up to 30,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) could fly into the U.S. each month through the program so long as they meet certain requirements.
Large amounts of fraud were found out about through an internal report released last month involving the applications for those sponsoring the applicants.
"DHS has review mechanisms in place to detect and prevent fraud and abuse in our immigration processes," a DHS spokesperson said. "Where fraud is identified, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will investigate and litigate applicable cases in immigration court and make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice."