Presentación Cuban/Haitian Entrant Parole (CHEP) Program

1. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Migration and Refugee Services (MRS)

3. • The U.S. Catholic bishops Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) division is a well-recognized leader with
more than 40 years of experience in helping Cubans and Haitians who resettle in the United States
under unique and complex immigration policies. CHEP is MRS’ vehicle to serving these two populations.
• In 2016, CHEP served over 7,600 clients of which 1,748 were Haitian.
• The MRS office in Miami, in partnership with the MRS Cuban/Haitian resettlement network in the rest of
the U.S. (mostly Catholic Charities agencies), helped to resettle 3,701 clients, of which 542 were Haitian.
This includes Family Reunification cases and Free cases (clients with no family or anchor in the United
States).
• An additional 3,320 newly arrived clients were provided orientation and referral services through the
Parolee Orientation Program (POP), a subcomponent of CHEP. 1.206 of those clients were Haitian.

4.  To provide reception, processing, placement and
resettlement services to eligible Cuban and Haitian
entrants and help them become self-sufficient in the
least amount of time

5. • 1959: Castro assumes power in Cuba
• 1960: Operation Pedro Pan
• 1961: Failed invasion of the Bay of Pigs: Catholic organizations start resettling Cuban refugees.
• 1962: The Cuban Refugee Assistance Program/Migration and Refugee Assistance Program
• 1966: Cuban Adjustment Act
• 1965 to 1973: Cubans arriving in the U.S. via “Freedom Flights”
• 1980: Mariel Boat Lift: 125,000 Cubans entered in six months (and about 50,000 Haitians) / Refugee Act of 1980
/ Creation of ORR / The Cuban/Haitian Program in its current form begins
• Mid 80s: Birth of current CHEP
• 1990: The Immigration Act of 1990
• 1994: Guantanamo (Cubans and Haitians)
• 1995: Wet foot, dry foot policy (revision of the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966)
• 2010: Haitian earthquake (medivacs)
• 2013: Cuba abolishes its exit visa requirement
• 2014: President Obama announces the opening of an American embassy in Havana and the U.S. allows for
transfers to Cuba up to $8K a year.
• 2015: Haitian Family Reunification Program CFRP in CHEP’s POP
• 2016: Haitian surge from Brazil through Central America and into California

6. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
International Operations Division (IO)
Humanitarian Affairs Branch (HAB)
CHEP$
Church World Services (CWS)
Only other recipient of CHEP funds
*CHEP’s funding is permissive, not mandatory
and is based on service fees from other immigrants

7. Fiscal or Calendar
Year
Cuban/Haitian Clients Parolee Orientation Program (POP) Total
Cuban Haitian Total Cuban Haitian Total Clients
2010 959 168 1,127 9,004 - 9,004 10,131
2011 1,343 150 1,493 7,924 - 7,924 9,417
2012 1,615 78 1,693 6,562 - 6,562 8,255
2013 2,034 111 2,145 8,360 - 8,360 10,505
2014 1,817 71 1,888 5,253 - 5,253 7,141
2015 2,226 47 2,273 5,306 35 5,341 7,614
2016 3,159 542 3,701 2,114 1,206 3,976 7,677
2017* 1,500 1,000 2,500 1,900 1,600 3,500 6,000
*Estimated

10. 1
Processing
2
Resettlement
• Reception
• Urgent Needs
• USCIS (immigration Svcs.)
• Referral Svcs.
• Reception
• Basic Short Term Needs
• Case Mgmt.
• Housing
• Community Orientation
• Employment
• Education/ESL
• Health Screenings

11. Family Reunification: 30 days starting when the client is reunited
with family/friend and assigned for resettlement services.
Unaccompanied Minors: 90 days from the time the minor has been
placed with relatives.
Free Cases: 180 days from the time the client has arrived to the
resettlement site.

12. Type of client
Administrative
expenses
Direct Assistance
Emergency
Assistance
Family Reunification $250 $0 $90
Free Case $750 $1,400 $90

13. Through the Parolee Orientation Program (POP), CHEP also provides orientation and referral services to newly arrived Cubans
and Haitians admitted into the U.S. through the Cuban Family Reunification Program (CFRP) and Haitian Family Reunification
Program (HFRP) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)/International Operations, Humanitarian Affairs Branch.
Individuals served by the POP Program comprise a separate subgroup of clients that is not subject to the benefits and services
offered through the core CHEP program. The POP Program can provide the following:
• Cultural orientation explaining the rights and responsibilities of the life in the U.S.;
• Orientation about school and public transportation services, registering with the Selective Service; obtaining a Social
Security card and a driver’s license or ID card; among other documents;
• Assistance in applying for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD);
• Referrals to the Florida Department of Health for medical screenings;
• Referral to local resettlement agencies for employment services under ORR funded programs; legal orientation services;
and ESL classes.

14. USCCB/MRS Miami Office
7855 NW 12th Street, Miami, FL 33126
P: 305-541-8100
F: 305-541-8103
chepinfo@usccb.org
For reports and claims:
Lourdes del Rio, ldelrio@usccb.org ext. 212
For client enrollments and referrals:
Vivian Dominguez, vdominguez@usccb.org ext.216
For special authorizations:
Carlos Naranjo, Assistant Director, cnaranjo@usccb.org ext.210
For administrative and managerial issues:
Juan F. Lopez, Associate Director, jlopez@usccb.org ext.214

15. USCCB Miami
Budget Sites Fam. Reunif. Case Sites
• Austin Rest of Diocesan Network
• Houston
• Las Vegas
• Louisville
• Phoenix
• Rochester
• San Diego
• Miami, FL*
• Palm Beach, FL*
• Venice, FL*
• St. Petersburg, FL*
*Family Reunification Budget Site Only
1
Processing
2
Resettlement

16. - Cuban Family Reunification Parole program (CFRP) (it is easy
to identify because it’s written on their visas in the passports):
CP1, CP3
- Visitors and business visas: B1, B2
- Work visas: H1B, L1, TN1, EB2, EB3
- Exchange visitor’s visa: J1
- Fiancée visas: K1, K2