Congressman Paul Gosar has waited for more than 6 months for what he calls “a pathetic response” from the Obama Administration about the Central American Minors (CAM) program. Gosar and 38 members of Congress asked “pointed questions” about the program which uses taxpayer dollars to fly illegal immigrants from Central American Countries to the U.S.
On April 27, 2015 Gosar led an effort supported by his House colleagues calling on President Obama to immediately terminate the Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee/Parole Program and asking pointed questions about its costs and operations. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services finally responded to Congressman Gosar’s letter on October 30, 2015.
The Congressman was told in a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that the purpose of CAM was to provided an “orderly alternative to the dangerous journey that some… are currently taking to the United States.”
According to Gosar, in the response that took more than 6 months, the Obama Administration failed to answer more than a dozen questions from Members of Congress including:
∙An explanation as to the evolution of the CAM program including any and all potential updates to the CAM program that are currently being considered.
∙How many total applications for the CAM program have been received to date?
∙How many individuals have entered the United States as a result of the CAM program to date?
∙Please further define what “help with travel plans” entails and an estimated cost of these expenditures over the life of the CAM program.
∙For the loans for their travel to the U.S., what percentage of these loans will be required to be repaid and what is the maximum loan to each individual?
∙State Department spokesperson Marie Harf recently responded during a press briefing that she did not know the price tag, but she “was happy to look” into these expenditures. What is the estimated cost to U.S. taxpayers from the new CAM program?
∙DHS’ website states that after arriving, illegal immigrants participating in this program “will be eligible for medical and cash assistance.” What is the estimated total cost of cash assistance for refugees over the life of the CAM program?
∙What is the estimated total cost of the medical benefits for refugees over the life of the CAM program?
∙DHS’ website also indicates there is “no fee to apply for refugee status.” and that the information provided “will not be shared with your home country.” Why is there not a fee?
∙Why not share some relevant information with the country of origin to confirm important information about these potential CAM participants?
∙DHS’ website states, “There is no fee to participate in this refugee/parole program and it is prohibited for anyone to charge a fee for completion of the form.”
∙What statutory authority, Presidential executive order or memo from the Office of the Secretary allows for this type of discrimination and prohibits charging a fee for completion of the form for the select qualifying individuals?
∙How many applicants are eligible and have applied for the CAM program as a result of an associated relative receiving deferred action from either the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program or the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent residents (DAPA) program?
The Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee/Parole Program requires parolees to pay for their flights and medical care but will provide cash, loans, as well as help with travel and medical assistance to refugees participating in the program at taxpayer expense. Media reports further indicate that parolees participating in the program could include felons and immigrants that were previously deported.
Gosar found it shocking that DHS’ website states, “There is no fee to participate in this refugee/parole program and it is prohibited for anyone to charge a fee for completion of the form.” Gosar believes that it is “worse yet,” that some CAM program participants are eligible because they have a family member living in the U.S. who was one of the beneficiaries of President Obama’s previous deferred action amnesty executive orders.
The 37 members of the House who joined Congressman Gosar in calling for termination of the CAM program and asking detailed questions about the program’s operations include representatives Bill Flores, Trent Franks, Louie Gohmert, Steve King, Doug LaMalfa, Doug Lamborn, Cynthia Lummis, Matt Salmon, David Schweikert, Pete Sessions, Lamar Smith, Randy Weber and Ted Yoho.