Q : What is the authority that allows an individual to be paroled into the United States?

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides that USCIS may exercise its discretionary parole authority "for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit." See INA § 212(d)(5)(A), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(5)(A); see also 8 CFR § 212.5(c) and (d) (discretionary authority for granting parole).

The Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program will supplement other existing programs (e.g., family-based immigrant visas, refugee settlement, and parole) to provide another avenue for the United States to meet the commitment of issuing travel documents under the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords.