As Democrats advocate for providing free health care to illegal immigrants with parole status, a recent report indicates that the Biden administration's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has allowed many illegal aliens to remain in the United States after their parole expired.
Explainer Biden Let Aliens Overstay Expired Parole As Dems Push To Give Free Health Care To Parolees
According to a report highlighted by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, 61,455 parolee visas expired between November 2024 and February 2025. The report suggests that under current DHS policies, these individuals could remain unlawfully in the U.S. without facing enforcement actions.
The Federalist reported that the parole status for many of these aliens was granted as part of the Biden administration's broader approach to immigration enforcement, which has been criticized for lacking rigor.
Parole is intended to be granted on a limited basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. However, critics argue that the Biden administration has exploited this function to facilitate the entry of millions of illegal immigrants into the country, while also making them eligible for health benefits.
The ongoing debate over health care for parolees has intensified, particularly as Republicans have tightened eligibility requirements in recent legislation. Democrats are now pushing to repeal these provisions, threatening a government shutdown as leverage.
Grassley’s letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the failure of multiple DHS components, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to enforce parole expirations as mandated by federal law. Grassley noted that CBP is required to report overstay data to Congress, but has not done so under the current administration.
USCIS has also been criticized for not maintaining a system to track parole expirations, leading to a lack of communication with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about the status of parolees.
In a related concern, the Trump administration previously claimed that the Biden administration instructed organizations involved in health care enrollment to avoid inquiring about immigration status, further complicating the issue of eligibility for public benefits.
The DHS report and Grassley's findings underscore ongoing challenges in the Biden administration's immigration policy, which critics argue prioritizes the influx of illegal immigrants over the enforcement of established laws.
Why it matters
- DHS allowed over 61,000 illegal aliens to remain in the U.S. after parole expiration, raising concerns about immigration enforcement.
- Democrats' push for free health care for parolees intensifies amid Republican efforts to tighten eligibility, highlighting political divides.
- Grassley's report criticizes DHS for failing to enforce parole expirations, suggesting systemic issues in immigration policy.
What’s next
- Senate Judiciary Committee may hold hearings on DHS enforcement failures and immigration policy.
- Democrats plan to introduce legislation to repeal tightened health care eligibility for parolees.
- Potential government shutdown looms as Democrats leverage health care debate against Republican measures.