A controversial immigration program that has been in place for decades has become a hot topic of contention in recent days, as it is likely to be repealed or severely restricted by the incoming Trump administration, with Democrats calling on President Biden to We are calling for steps to be taken to maintain this program.
Temporary Protected Status is a program established in the 1990s in which the government designates countries that are unsafe for citizens to return to, grants work permits to those already in the United States, and provides work authorization for those who entered the country illegally or legally. They can be protected from deportation if their status lapses.
The Biden administration has designated or redesignated a number of countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, and Afghanistan, as TPS eligible countries, allowing hundreds of thousands of their citizens to remain in the United States. Currently, 17 countries are designated as TPS.
‘Legal authority’: Senate Democrats call on Biden to expand protections for illegal immigrants ahead of Trump administration
Migrants travel by bus from Del Rio, Texas, to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, then board a city bus to head to a shelter reception center on May 13, 2023 (Victor J. Blue)
The first Trump administration sought to roll back TPS for many countries, but the issue became embroiled in a years-long legal battle initiated by left-wing civil rights groups.
TPS became a major issue again in 2024 as Republicans and conservatives focused attention on the mass immigration from Haiti on humanitarian parole. Immigrants are eligible for TPS if they enter the country using the CBP One app and a program that allows up to 30,000 people per month from four countries to enter the U.S. and arrive before the country is redesignated. I was able to get
Widespread reports of Haitian immigrants flooding into towns in Ohio and elsewhere have been highlighted by former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio. President Trump promised earlier this year to cancel TPS for Haiti.
“That’s being violated. You can’t do that to people. I’ll take it back.” [TPS]and I take [the migrants] Go back to their country,” he told NewsNation when talking about Springfield, Ohio.
Vance described TPS as “a government edict that we can no longer deport people.” Conservatives have long complained that the continued extension of TPS means it is not as “temporary” as it claims to be.
Democratic senators urge Biden to expand protections for illegal immigrants before Trump says ‘no one is safe’
President-elect Trump (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images/File)
Republicans are moving to limit the program in Congress. Incoming U.S. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) has announced that the TPS designation will be approved by Congress for a 12-month term and that its extension will require additional action by Congress. A bill was proposed to limit the designation. President Trump has promised to launch a massive deportation operation, which is expected to result in restrictions on TPS and other immigration benefits.
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Because of the impending situation, Democrats are calling on Biden to expand protections under TPS and other programs to cushion the incoming administration.
“We write now because the window to secure and finalize the administration’s policies is rapidly closing,” Democrats led by Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois wrote to Biden this month.
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“We urge you to take decisive action between now and the next president’s inauguration to complete the important work of the past four years and protect immigrant families.”
But so far, there has been no action by the Biden administration on TPS, and there is no indication that a redesignation or extension is imminent.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
Contact him at adam.shaw2@fox.com or at: Twitter.
