Biden Administration’s New Policies to Address Humanitarian Crisis Off Florida Coast Face Criticism from Both Sides of the Aisle

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding off the coast of Florida as migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela continue to take to the sea in a desperate effort to reach the United States. John Apollony, a marine interdiction agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said there’s been a “substantial uptick” in migration from Haiti and Cuba. More than 4,400 migrants have made their way by boat to the U.S. since August, officials say.

In response to this crisis, the Biden administration has announced new policies to open more legal options for migrants from the four countries while also eliminating pathways for those nationalities to claim asylum at the border. Under the new policies, 30,000 migrants from the four countries will be eligible to apply for humanitarian parole protections from their home countries. Mexico has also agreed to take back 30,000 migrants per month from those same countries.

However, a group of 77 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday criticizing the new policies. The letter, signed by New Jersey Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and 74 others, said the new policies are “disappointing.”

In response to the influx of migrants, some agents from Ohio have been sent to Florida to help. Customs and Border Protection’s Miami sector has responded to more than 250 migrants landings since October — a 350% increase over the same time last year.

The Biden administration is facing criticism from both sides of the aisle as it attempts to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. It remains to be seen how effective the new policies will be in addressing the influx of migrants.