Here are the top American cities Joe Biden is sending hundreds of thousands of paroled migrants

The Department of Homeland Security revealed that it sent over 200,000 migrants on a controversial parole program to 45 cities across the United States between January and August 2023.  

The policy, which was enacted in October 2022, allowed migrants who had not entered the country illegally to fly directly into America.

Migrants were also required to have a sponsor in the US and pass various vetting tests. 

It was initially announced for Venezuelans, before adding Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans amid one of the worst migrant crises in American history under President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Around 80 percent of the migrants were sent to four cities in the state of Florida: Miami - which got 91,821, more than any other city - Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa Bay were among the top 15 destinations, according to the DHS. 

The Department of Homeland Security revealed that it sent over 200,000 migrants on a controversial parole program to 45 cities across the United States between January and August 2023 

It was initially announced for Venezuelans, before adding Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans amid one of the worst migrant crises in American history under President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

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Under fire Secretary Mayorkas says the program led to a reduction in people from those nations illegally crossing the border. 

'It is a key element of our efforts to address the unprecedented level of migration throughout our hemisphere, and other countries around the world see it as a model to tackle the challenge of increased irregular migration that they too are experiencing,' Mayorkas said.

New York City, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco were also in the top 10 of destinations. 

Another 1.6million migrants are waiting to get into the country via this same program, DHS claims.

Multiple states, including Florida, have attempted to sue to stop the program but have thus far been unsuccessful.

'Biden's parole program is unlawful, and constitutes an abuse of constitutional authority. Florida is currently suing Biden to shut it down, and we believe that we will prevail,' said Governor Ron DeSantis' press secretary, Jeremy Redfern. 

Since Biden took office, the U.S. has seen record-high numbers of illegal border crossings.

Customs and Border Protection has apprehended more than 7.6 million migrants illegally crossing the southern border – the majority of which are traveling from Central and South American countries in efforts to claim asylum in the U.S.

Under fire Secretary Mayorkas says the problem led to reductions in people from those nations illegally crossing the border

The crisis at the border has been a scandal for the Biden administration throughout his presidency, with former President and 2024 opponent Donald Trump promising to fix the problem.

Trump is ready to reshape American policy and detailed in interviews with TIME Magazine what some of these sweeping overhauls would include.

Top 10 cities where migrants were flown via DHS program 

1. Miami - 91,821

2. Fort Lauderdale - 60,461

3. New York - 14,827

4. Houston - 7,923

5. Orlando - 6,043

6. Los Angeles - 3,271

7. Tampa - 3,237

8. Dallas - 2,256

9. San Francisco - 2,052

10. Atlanta - 1,796 

(Source: DHS) 

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In a wide-ranging interview at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida on April 12, the former president confirmed he would use detention camps to house illegal immigrants during deportation efforts.

He also didn't rule out deploying the military to round up the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the country. As of January 2022, the illegal immigrant population in the U.S. was estimated to stand at 11.35 million.

Trump has repeatedly said he would take aggressive actions to address the border issue on Day One of a second term after President Joe Biden reversed almost all of his policies and plunged the country into an all-out illegal immigration crisis.

His proposals would include tapping local law enforcement, National Guard and, if necessary, members of the U.S. Military to round up illegal immigrants for deportation.

TIME National Politics Reporter Eric Cortellessa asked Trump if he would override the Posse Comitatus Act, which states the U.S. military cannot be deployed against civilians.

'Well, these aren't civilians,' the former president replied. 'These are people that aren't legally in our country. This is an invasion of our country. An invasion like probably no country has ever seen before.'

'They're coming in by the millions. I believe we have 15 million now. And I think you'll have 20 million by the time this ends,' Trump predicted. 'And that's bigger than almost every state.'

He also said it isn't likely he would have to house these immigrants in detention camps because he plans to deport them swiftly – but he didn't rule out building more holding centers if needed during the operation.

'No, I would not rule out anything,' Trump said. 'But there wouldn't be that much of a need for them [detention camps], because of the fact that we're going to be moving them out. We're going to bring them back from where they came.'