FIRST ON FOX: Republican lawmakers are raising concerns about a new “parole in place” scheme to protect illegal immigrant spouses of citizens from deportation — warning that it could be accompanied by a spike in marriage fraud.
In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, obtained by Fox News Digital, 10 lawmakers led by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., say that the expansion of parole “is likely to result in the growth of an existing international criminal network used to allow aliens to illegally enter the country through fraudulent marriages, including individuals connected with terrorist organizations.”
The Biden administration announced the new process in June, that allows noncitizen spouses who have lived in the U.S. for 10 years and are judged not to pose a threat to public safety or national security to apply for permanent residency.
VANCE BORDER SPEECH HITS HARRIS IN LATEST BARRAGE OF ATTACKS BETWEEN CAMPAIGNS ON MIGRANT CRISIS
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 31: House Oversight Committee member Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) talks to reporters as he departs the ONeill House Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 31, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee heard closed-door testimony from Hunter Biden’s former business partner Devon Archer. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
DHS estimates that it will affect approximately 500,000 illegal immigrants. The process would not be eligible for new arrivals, as they must be in the U.S. for more than 10 years by June 2024.
But the lawmakers note that marriage fraud has been a major avenue used for illegal immigrants, and is often organized by criminal groups.
“Marriage fraud is also known to be a tool used by terrorist organizations. Members of both Al Qaeda and Hezbollah have used marriage fraud to allow their members to enter the United States under the guise of legitimacy,” they note.
“Since the criminal mechanisms for large scale marriage fraud for illegal aliens already exist, we are greatly concerned that the announced…
