A new federal watchdog report is shedding even more light on just how massive the Biden administration’s catch-and-release operation became at the southern border — and the numbers are staggering.
According to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), former President Joe Biden’s Department of Homeland Security, under then-Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, released nearly 9 out of every 10 migrants arriving at the southern border into the United States through parole programs at the height of the administration’s border policies.
The report examined the parole system used from early 2021 through January 20, 2025, revealing how the Biden administration dramatically expanded the use of parole authority to release migrants directly into American communities. Before Biden took office, parole authority had historically been used only sparingly and under limited circumstances by previous administrations.
Instead, the GAO found the Biden administration transformed parole into a large-scale processing pipeline during the border crisis, allowing millions of migrants to enter and remain in the country while awaiting immigration proceedings.
For conservatives, the findings confirm what many had been warning about for years: the administration effectively institutionalized catch-and-release on a historic scale while publicly insisting the border was somehow “secure.” Americans didn’t need a watchdog report to notice what was happening — although apparently Washington finally catching up is still progress.
The parole system became one of the most controversial parts of Biden and Mayorkas’s immigration strategy, with Republicans arguing it stretched executive authority far beyond its intended purpose. Critics said the policy incentivized illegal crossings and overwhelmed communities, schools, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies across the country.
The GAO report now provides official federal confirmation of just how extensive the releases became during the peak years of the border crisis. Conservatives argue the findings also reinforce why immigration became one of the defining political issues leading into the 2024 election cycle.
President Donald Trump repeatedly campaigned on ending mass catch-and-release policies and restoring stricter border enforcement measures, contrasting his approach directly with Biden’s immigration agenda. Since returning to office, the Trump administration has continued emphasizing border security, deportations, and tighter controls over parole authority.
For many Americans, the report represents more than just statistics — it’s validation of concerns they watched unfold in real time as record numbers of migrants entered the country under policies critics viewed as dangerously permissive.
And with the federal government itself now documenting the scale of the releases, Republicans are likely to keep hammering home a message that resonated strongly with voters: border security is not optional, and the consequences of weak enforcement eventually affect the entire country.
