Trump Closed a Little-Known Door for Family Reunification, Leaving Refugees Stranded
Article publisher:
American Renaissance
Article date:
17 July 2018
Article category:
National News
Medium
Article Body:
The so-called Central American Minors program was created in late 2014 in response to a surge of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children fleeing violence in the region. The program was billed as a safe alternative to a dangerous journey north through Mexico. It allowed immigrants who were lawfully present in the U.S. to apply for refugee status or humanitarian parole on behalf of their children under age 21, as well as their own spouses and grandchildren living in El Salvador, Guatemala or Honduras.
The program failed to stem the flow of unaccompanied children. But it worked as a way to reunite some families....
When the program ended, more than 2,700 young people had their conditional approvals to relocate to the U.S. rescinded, according to the complaint....
During the time that the program existed, more than 15,000 people applied, according to the State Department. More than 2,100 were resettled as refugees, the government said, meaning they could apply for legal residency after one year. Another 1,500 were allowed in the U.S. as parolees, permitted to remain only as long as their work permits remain active....