The Biden administration announced Friday an extension of deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals from numerous countries, weeks before the incoming Trump administration is expected to launch a historic deportation operation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador, Venezuela, Sudan, and Ukraine for an additional 18 months beyond its current expiration date.
TPS provides protection from deportation and work authorization to citizens residing in the United States from countries deemed unsafe. DHS cited environmental disasters in El Salvador, including storms and heavy rains, saying they caused “significant but temporary” disruptions to living conditions. He also mentioned the political and economic crisis in Venezuela, the political instability in Sudan, and the ongoing conflict with Russia in Ukraine.
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Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks at the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC (Getty Images)
This move does not redesignate countries with this status. This means that only countries currently protected by the TPS will be eligible for an extension, and no new applications will be accepted. Venezuela's extension applies to approximately 600,000 citizens. El Salvador applies to 232,000 people. In the case of Ukraine, this applies to approximately 103,000 people. Approximately 1,900 people in Sudan will be affected. Venezuela's extension would run until October 2026, while El Salvador's extension would run until September 2026, both of which were scheduled to end in the spring of 2025.
Such moves against El Salvador and Venezuela in particular could complicate the Trump administration's efforts to deport illegal immigrants from those countries. Venezuelans are in particular focus following the rise of the Venezuelan gang Torren de Aragua, but El Salvador is the birthplace of the MS-13 gang.
The agency noted that individuals eligible for TPS will be vetted and will be disqualified from TPS if they have a felony conviction or multiple misdemeanors.
The Biden administration faces numerous demands from Senate Democrats and immigration activists to extend TPS ahead of the incoming Trump administration, which has promised to significantly increase enforcement of illegal immigration and deportations.
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“We write this letter now because the window to secure and finalize your administration's policy is rapidly closing. We urge Democrats, led by Democrats, to take decisive action between now and the next president's inauguration to complete and protect immigrant families. Sen. Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois.he told Biden in a letter this month.
While the first Trump administration moved to reduce the number of countries designated as TPS, the Biden administration has made extensive use of TPS, designating or redesignating many countries, including Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Haiti. Currently, 17 countries are designated as TPS.
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Former President Trump speaks at the U.S.-Mexico border south of Sierra Vista, Arizona, on August 22, 2024. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance have indicated that they intend to reduce TPS, especially for Haiti, once they take office.
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Republicans are also moving to limit the program in Congress. Senator-elect Jim Banks, Republicanintroduced a bill last year that would require Congress to approve a 12-month term and take additional steps to extend it.
