WASHINGTON D C: The Trump administration has put a hold on immigration applications from some migrants who were allowed into the country under programs introduced by President Biden. This decision, made by the Trump administration, is due to concerns about fraud and security, according to multiple officials.

The freeze will last indefinitely while officials review possible fraud cases and tighten security checks. This unexpected move leaves many migrants unsure about their future in the U.S, as they were in the process of applying for legal status or permanent residency.

Although the exact number of affected people is unclear, the suspension impacts several programs that allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. legally under a system called PAROLE. This system lets the government quickly grant temporary entry to people for humanitarian or public benefit reasons.

Who Is Affected: The Joe Biden administration used parole largely to encourage legal immigration instead of illegal border crossings. However, the Trump administration says that Biden misused the policy and has now paused these programs:

Uniting for Ukraine has permitted 2,40,000 Ukrainians to enter the U.S. with American sponsors after fleeing Russia’s invasion.

CHNV Program has allowed 5,30,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to come with U.S sponsors.

As part of Family-Based Parole, some migrants from Colombia, Ecuador, Central America, Haiti, and Cuba enter while waiting for green cards.

These migrants were given temporary work-permits and deportation protection, generally for two years. Many applied for other immigration benefits, such as Temporary Protected Status, asylum, or green cards. However, the new rule stops the processing of all pending applications from those who arrived under Biden's programs.

 A memorandum from Andrew Davidson, a top official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), reveals that fraud and security concerns were not being properly caught. Investigations found many suspicious CHNV applications, including those with serial sponsors, fake addresses, or even names of deceased people. Some migrants were also not fully vetted before entering.

For now, U.S Immigration Services will not process any new applications from migrants under these programs till a full review is completed. This means that many migrants are stuck in limbo, unable to change their immigration status and at risk of deportation if their parole protections expire.

The Trump administration has also taken other steps against these migrants. Last month, immigration agents were authorized to start deporting people who arrived through the CHNV program and similar policies. There are also plans to revoke the parole status of many migrants who entered under Biden's administratives.