FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2023

San Diego,  California − Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security announced a modernization of the Cuban and Haitian Family Reunification Parole (FRP), allowing the completion of a significant portion of the FRP process on a secure online platform, alleviating the burdens of travel, time, and paperwork. The process will also impact eligible individuals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia.

Guerline Jozef, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, Co-Founder of the Cameroon Advocacy Network, and Co-Founder of the Black Immigrants Bail Fund said the following: 

“The Department of Homeland Security’s decision to modernize the Cuban and Haitian Family Reunification Parole processes demonstrates a commitment to empathy, efficiency, and human dignity by streamlining administrative procedures. As we navigate a complex world, these efforts remind us that family bonds transcend borders and our shared humanity finds its voice in actions that honor unity over division.” 

While the Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) applauds this forward-thinking decision, it urges DHS to expand the program’s accessibility. HBA advocates for allowing petitioners to affirmatively apply for the program without the constraint of waiting for an invitation from the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) provided they can establish their eligibility independently. Additionally, the organization highlights the pressing need to revise the per-beneficiary application fee, which poses a significant financial barrier. The cumulative impact of factors such as the narrow eligibility window, potential multiple beneficiaries per petitioner, the necessity to await an NVC invitation, and processing time collectively limit the program’s reach and its ultimate goal of expediting family reunification.

HBA remains committed to advocating for more fair and just immigration policies. The Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) program, initiated in 2015 for Haitian nationals, seeks to accelerate family reunification for beneficiaries of family-based immigrant visa petitions filed by specific relatives in the United States. The program’s intention is to grant parole to eligible Haitians awaiting visa availability, facilitating their entry into the United States. Beneficiaries endorsed through the HFRP Program are granted parole into the United States for an initial three-year period. This time frame allows them ample opportunity to apply for Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status once their immigrant visas become accessible, which typically occurs within two years of being paroled into the United States.