Biden Extends Deportation Relief for 900,000 Immigrants Under TPS
President Biden’s administration has renewed deportation relief for 900,000 immigrants from Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine, and Sudan, extending their Temporary Protected Status for 18 months. This move counters efforts by President-elect Donald Trump to end such protections. Advocates call for further expansions to include more nations and arrivals.
On Friday, the Biden administration announced an extension of deportation relief for approximately 900,000 immigrants from Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine, and Sudan, thereby prolonging their protections under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for an additional 18 months. These measures solidify the security of these vulnerable populations against deportation, as well as grant them continued access to work permits. This decision notably impedes any potential efforts from President-elect Donald Trump, who may seek to rescind these protections when he assumes office on January 20.
The Temporary Protected Status program is designed for individuals from countries afflicted by significant crises, such as natural disasters or armed conflict. The Biden administration has significantly expanded the categories under which immigrants qualify for TPS since 2021, now covering over one million individuals from eighteen nations. This recent extension particularly benefits the large Venezuelan contingent, which comprises about 600,000 individuals facing dire conditions in their home country due to ongoing political turmoil and economic instability.
The extension of TPS for these immigrants underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations amid challenges posed by potential shifts in immigration policy under the upcoming Trump administration. While this extension aids hundreds of thousands, advocates continue to press for broader inclusion of other nations and more recent arrivals in the TPS program. The situation remains dynamic as the political landscape evolves with the new presidential transition.
Original Source: www.usnews.com