A new report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has raised significant concerns about the national security risks associated with the catch-and-release migrant programs implemented by the Biden-Harris administration, particularly those endorsed by Kamala Harris.

The report, released last week, details how U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is releasing noncitizens into the country without proper identification, a practice that the watchdog agency warns “inadvertently increases national security risks.”

The report highlights a major flaw in the administration’s handling of the border crisis.

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According to federal law, noncitizens who do not possess identification are not admissible into the U.S. and should be detained.

Yet, under the Biden-Harris administration’s policies, many migrants are released into the country, often without identification or legal grounds for entry.

The report underscores how these actions violate federal law and abuse the administration’s discretionary parole powers.

In fiscal year 2023, CBP encountered 2.4 million migrants at the southern border, with most of them being released into the U.S. As part of the processing system, migrants provide their biographical information, including name and date of birth, and undergo biometric data collection, such as photographs and fingerprints.

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This information is entered into the DHS database to screen for criminal records or other derogatory information.

However, the report outlines a significant limitation in the DHS database: it relies solely on data shared by countries that cooperate with the U.S. on travel and security information.

This means that if a migrant has committed serious crimes in countries like Mexico, Venezuela, Haiti, or Cuba—some of the main countries of origin for many migrants—the U.S. would have no access to that information.

The absence of data-sharing agreements with these countries leaves significant gaps in the vetting process.

Moreover, the report raises concerns that migrants could provide false information, including fake names, during the border processing.

When questioned by the OIG, DHS officials admitted that they do not collect information on how many migrants are released into the country without any form of identification.

Immigration officers interviewed for the report acknowledged the risks associated with allowing unidentified noncitizens into the U.S.

The issue doesn’t end with the release of migrants. The report also reveals that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is allowing these same noncitizens, without proper identification, to board domestic flights within the U.S.

This is something that American citizens themselves are not permitted to do, raising significant concerns about national security and the integrity of the vetting process.

The Biden-Harris administration’s reliance on parole programs, including the CBP One app and the CHNV (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela) parole program, is coming under fire.

These programs, designed to expedite the processing of migrants at southern border ports of entry, have been described as a “colossal security failure” in the OIG report.

Despite providing biographical and biometric data, the lack of access to foreign criminal records and the risk of false identities severely hampers the government’s ability to properly vet those entering the country.

The report’s findings are likely to intensify scrutiny of the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies.

Critics have long warned that the catch-and-release programs pose significant security risks, and this report provides further evidence to support those concerns.

The OIG’s conclusions suggest that the current immigration system is vulnerable to exploitation by individuals who may pose a threat to national security.

The Biden-Harris administration, and particularly Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been tasked with overseeing immigration efforts, may face increasing pressure to address the failures identified in the report.

With the 2024 election approaching, former President Donald Trump has pledged that, if elected, he will dismantle the catch-and-release programs immediately, calling them a national security risk that must be eliminated.

The report underscores the need for more stringent border security measures and a comprehensive overhaul of the current immigration system to ensure that those entering the country are properly vetted.

As it stands, the system allows too many individuals to slip through the cracks, posing a significant risk to the safety and security of the American people.

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