Kokomo Standard

Rep. Jim Banks said the Biden administration’s immigration policies, particularly the Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program and parole abuses, are overwhelming small communities like Logansport, Indiana. He said the town is struggling with an estimated 5,000 Haitian migrants arriving in two years, calling the pace of change unsustainable and urging Congress to end these policies.

“In just 2 years an est. 5,000 Haitian migrants have been moved to Logansport, Indiana, a town of 18,000 people. No small community can survive that pace of change,” Rep. Banks wrote in an Oct. 10 social media post on X. “Biden and Kamala‘s CHNV program and parole abuses are wreaking havoc in heartland towns like Logansport.  Congress must end it.”

According to Fox News, the rural city of Logansport, Indiana, has seen a significant influx of immigrants, primarily from Haiti and Central America, which is straining local services. The school district has experienced a sharp rise in enrollment, particularly among Haitian students, many of whom are unaccompanied and juggling school with jobs. Employment opportunities at the Tyson meatpacking plant have drawn many migrants to the area.

Local officials, including Mayor Chris Martin, express concerns about the lack of accurate data on the number of immigrants, which makes planning for services difficult. The city is experiencing increased demand for healthcare, with Logansport Memorial Hospital seeing record births and emergency room visits. Housing shortages have also led to overcrowded living conditions.

City leaders are calling for state and federal help to manage the situation, but so far, there has been little response. Mayor Martin has considered declaring a state of emergency as the city struggles to cope with the rapid population growth.

The Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program is an initiative by the U.S. government aimed at providing a pathway to humanitarian parole for eligible individuals from these four countries. This program allows individuals to apply for entry into the United States if they have a sponsor who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. 

More than 300,000 Haitians have been brought to live in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), their expenses funded by U.S. taxpayers, as reported by AP News. The Biden/Harris administration expanded the program after former President Donald Trump tried to revoke it, but was stalled by court challenges.

TPS is supposed to last for a maximum of 18 months. But Haitians have been granted TPS for 14 years, starting in 2010, under former President Barack Obama.