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By Rachel Dobkin
Weekend Reporter
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President Joe Biden's administration on Friday announced it will allow roughly 600,000 Venezuelans and more than 200,000 Salvadorans to remain in the U.S. on Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Why It Matters
Immigration remains a hot-button issue in the U.S. Illegal immigration has gone up significantly under Biden, which President-elect Donald Trump fiercely criticized on the 2024 campaign trail and beyond. However, the number of illegal border crossings sharply decreased in 2024. Also, illegal immigration did increase in Trump's last months in office after hitting a low from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In terms of legal immigration, Biden has expanded TPS to cover roughly 1 million people.
What To Know
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Friday that the over 800,000 Venezuelans and Salvadorans already living in the U.S. can legally remain for another 18 months. This is one of the Biden administration's final acts on immigration policy before Trump takes office on January 20.
DHS said the decision to extend the Venezuelans' TPS is "based on the severe humanitarian emergency the country continues to face due to political and economic crises under the [Venezuelan President Nicolás] Maduro regime."
Additionally, the department cited "environmental conditions in El Salvador that prevent individuals from returning," specifically heavy rains and storms that the Central American country has faced in the past two years.
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What Is Temporary Protected Status?
TPS is a federal program that allows immigrants to stay in the U.S. for 18-month stretches without fear of being detained by DHS on the basis of their immigration status.
DHS gives the following temporary conditions that would qualify a country for TPS: ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster or epidemic or "other extraordinary and temporary conditions."
There are currently 17 countries that qualify for TPS, including El Salvador. Salvadorans are one of the largest beneficiaries of the program after the country was first designated for TPS in 2001 following devastating earthquakes.
What People Are Saying
José Palma, a 48-year-old TPS recipient from El Salvador, told The Associated Press of the DHS's decision to extend TPS: "It brings me peace of mind, a breath of fresh air. That's 18 more months of being protected," adding that it offers him stability.
Palma works in Houston and sends roughly $400 a month to his elderly mother. His wife is a permanent U.S. resident and his four children are U.S. citizens. If TPS was not extended, he could be sent back to his home country, separating him from his family.
What Happens Next
Trump has promised a mass deportation of illegal immigrants in his next term, but the fate of legal immigrants under his incoming administration remains unclear.
During his first term, Trump tried to sharply reduce the use of TPS, which included ending TPS for El Salvador, but the issue was held up in court. He and Vice President-elect JD Vance suggested they would decrease the use of TPS once they get into office.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Update 1/10/25 1:29 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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