Immigration attorney Willy Allen has issued a stark warning to Cubans who entered the United States using the humanitarian parole: their status adjustment interviews under the Cuban Adjustment Act are proving to be more rigorous than initially anticipated. The scrutiny is not just about their personal history in Cuba but also intensely focuses on the individuals who sponsored them.
Allen attributes this increased scrutiny to a history of fraud uncovered within the humanitarian parole program, known as CHNV. He cited a notable incident, remarking, "There was a person in Texas who sponsored dozens of people."
According to Allen, USCIS officers will delve deeper than just the applicants' backgrounds on the island. "They won’t just ask about who you are, what you did in Cuba, or your personal history. Beyond your own story, they'll ask very detailed questions about your sponsor, the types of assistance you received in the United States, and your relationship with the sponsor," he cautioned.
The anticipated questions are straightforward: Did you pay a sponsor? Do you know who they were? What is your relationship with that person? Allen acknowledged that many Cubans had sponsors they barely interacted with. "It might have been my cousin living in Wisconsin while I moved to Miami. I didn’t really see them. Whatever it is, tell your truth. Be prepared."
Allen also predicted that the group facing the most stringent interviews will be the largest one: the 120,000 individuals who entered through the humanitarian parole.
An urgent aspect of this preparation is the lifting of the previous pause on Cuban adjustment interviews. "There’s no pause anymore," Allen confirmed, aligning with attorney Liudmila Marcelo’s report on June 4 about a "silent lifting" of the pause, with interviews already conducted at the USCIS office in Jacksonville, Florida. On June 12, USCIS officially confirmed the pause was lifted.
Fraud in the CHNV program has been documented since 2024. The Department of Homeland Security discovered 100,948 forms submitted by just 3,218 "serial" sponsors, with 100 addresses used between 124 and 739 times, and a phone number appearing on more than 2,000 forms. In April 2023, federal authorities in Miami arrested Mario Henry García for allegedly creating fraudulent financial sponsors for immigration purposes.
For those with scheduled interviews, Allen offered four specific recommendations: attend with a lawyer, prepare in advance, ensure all details are correct, and bring your own interpreter, as attorneys cannot perform that role simultaneously.
Allen summarized the situation with a vivid metaphor: "It’s like a little red light flashing now. A Cuban adjustment interview cannot be taken lightly."
Key Considerations for Cuban Parolees Facing USCIS Interviews
Why are USCIS interviews for Cuban parolees becoming more intense?
The increased intensity in interviews is due to a history of fraud detected in the CHNV program, prompting USCIS officers to conduct more comprehensive evaluations.
What type of questions can Cuban parolees expect during their interviews?
Applicants can expect detailed questions about their personal history in Cuba, as well as in-depth inquiries about their sponsors and the nature of their relationship and support received in the U.S.
Who is likely to face the most rigorous interviews?
The group most likely to face stringent interviews comprises the 120,000 Cubans who entered via the humanitarian parole program.