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The Biden administration on Friday announced the extension of protections from deportation for hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals from a host of countries, just weeks before the incoming Trump administration is expected to launch a historic deportation crackdown.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the extension Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador, Venezuela, Sudan and Ukraine for an additional 18 months beyond their current maturities.
TPS grants protection from deportation and work permits to nationals living in the United States from countries considered unsafe for return. DHS cited environmental disasters in El Salvador, including storms and heavy rains, which it said caused a “substantial, but temporary” disruption to living conditions. He also cited the political and economic crises in Venezuela, political instability in Sudan and Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia.
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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks at a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC (Getty Images)
The moves do not redesignate countries for status, meaning only those currently protected by TPS are eligible for an extension and no new applications can be received. The Venezuelan extension will apply to about 600,000 nationals; El Salvador will apply to 232,000; Ukraine’s will apply to approximately 103,000; and Sudan will affect about 1,900 nationals. Venezuela’s extension will run until October 2026, and El Salvador’s will run until September 2026, and both were expected to end in spring 2025.
The measures, particularly for El Salvador and Venezuela, could complicate the Trump administration’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants from those countries. Venezuelan nationals have been a particular focus, given the rise of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, while El Salvador is where the gang MS-13 originated.
The agency noted that individuals for TPS are screened and barred from TPS eligibility if they have a felony conviction or multiple misdemeanors.
The Biden administration has faced several calls from Senate Democrats and immigration activists to extend TPS ahead of the incoming Trump administration, which has promised to crack down on illegal immigration and dramatically increase deportations.
“We are writing now because the window to secure and flesh out your administration’s policies is rapidly closing. We encourage you to act decisively between now and the inauguration of the president-elect to complete the important work of the past four years and protect immigrant families.” Democrats led by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.he told Biden in a letter this month.
The first Trump administration moved to reduce the number of countries designated for TPS, but the Biden administration has used it extensively, designating or redesignating several countries, including Venezuela, Afghanistan and Haiti. There are currently 17 countries designated for TPS.
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Former President Trump speaks at the US-Mexico border in southern Sierra Vista, Arizona on August 22, 2024. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
Both President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have indicated they want to reduce TPS once in office, specifically for Haiti.
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Republicans have also made moves to restrict the program in Congress. Sen.-elect Jim Banks, R-Ind.introduced a bill last year that would require Congress to approve them for 12-month terms and make additional moves to extend them.
