Biden Protects 900,000 Migrants From Being Sent Home


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The Biden administration has made a significant move by extending deportation protection to approximately 900,000 migrants, starting with nearly 200,000 El Salvadorians. This decision marks a substantial expansion of the administration’s immigration policies.

According to recent reports from the New York Post, the protection extends beyond El Salvador to include migrants from Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela. This action will allow approximately 1,900 Sudanese, 103,700 Ukrainian, and 600,000 Venezuelan immigrants to remain in the United States for at least another 18 months through the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program.

The TPS program, which originated from legislation signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, enables migrants from up to 16 designated countries to obtain work permits and remain in the United States rather than return to their homelands. Countries qualify for TPS designation when conditions such as armed conflict, political instability, or natural disasters make return unsafe for their nationals.

The Biden administration has significantly expanded the program’s scope during its tenure. According to Pew, the administration has granted deportation protection to almost 500,000 immigrants from Cameroon, Myanmar, Syria, and Venezuela in less than four years, representing half of all TPS beneficiaries.

While former President Trump has expressed intentions to terminate TPS for certain countries, legal barriers may complicate such efforts. Cornell Law School professor Steve Yale-Loehr told the New York Times: “Because President Biden has extended protection for the nationals of all these countries, President Trump will be unable to deport these individuals any time soon.”

Yale-Loehr further stated: “Trump can’t ignore what Congress wrote into law in 1990.”

Regarding the El Salvadoran extension specifically, the Department of Homeland Security released a statement saying: “The Department of Homeland Security announced today the extension of Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador for 18 months, from March 10, 2025, to Sept. 9, 2026, due to environmental conditions in El Salvador that prevent individuals from safely returning. The corresponding Federal Register notice provides information about how to re-register for TPS under El Salvador’s TPS extension.”

What began as a temporary solution has evolved into a de facto permanent arrangement for many immigrants, with the current administration’s policies significantly expanding its reach and impact on American immigration demographics.

 

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