- The Biden administration extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 1 million migrants from Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine, and Sudan, allowing them to stay in the U.S. until at least 2026.
- Conservatives criticized the move, accusing Biden of undermining national security and prioritizing politics over American safety.
- The extension includes Venezuelan migrants, raising concerns about the violent Tren de Aragua gang’s U.S. expansion.
- Trump’s incoming administration faces legal hurdles to reverse the TPS extension, as only Congress can permanently alter the program.
- Critics argue the decision prioritizes foreign nationals over American citizens, with DHS defending it as rooted in careful review and interagency collaboration.
In a controversial move just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Biden administration announced Friday the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 1 million migrants from Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine, and Sudan.
The decision, which allows these individuals to remain in the U.S. until at least 2026, has sparked outrage among conservatives who accuse President Joe Biden of undermining national security and prioritizing political maneuvering over the safety of American citizens.
Critics argue that the extension, which includes migrants from countries like Venezuela—a known breeding ground for the violent Tren de Aragua gang—amounts to a betrayal of the American people and a deliberate attempt to complicate Trump’s immigration agenda.
A blow to Trump’s immigration crackdown
The Biden administration’s decision extends TPS protections for approximately 937,600 migrants, including 600,000 Venezuelans, 232,000 Salvadorans, 103,700 Ukrainians, and 1,900 Sudanese nationals. The program, established in 1990, grants work permits and deportation relief to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. However, the timing of the announcement—just ten days before Trump’s swearing-in—has raised suspicions that the move is politically motivated.
Trump, who campaigned on a promise to crack down on illegal immigration, previously sought to end TPS during his first term but was blocked by legal challenges. His administration deported roughly 400,000 migrants, and he has vowed to resume aggressive enforcement measures upon taking office. Vice President-elect JD Vance echoed this commitment in October, stating, “We’re going to stop doing mass grants of Temporary Protected Status.”
The Biden administration’s extension sets the stage for a contentious legal battle. Cornell Law School professor Steve Yale-Loehr noted that only Congress can permanently alter or undo TPS, suggesting that Trump’s efforts to dismantle the program may face significant hurdles.
Gang affiliates and national security concerns
One of the most alarming aspects of the TPS extension is its inclusion of migrants from Venezuela, where the Tren de Aragua gang has flourished. According to a DHS memo obtained by the New York Post, the gang has expanded its operations to more than a dozen U.S. states, including California, Florida, Texas, and New York. Critics argue that the Biden administration’s decision could allow gang members and other criminals to remain in the country, posing a threat to public safety.
DHS has stated that all TPS applicants must undergo “rigorous national security and public safety vetting,” and individuals convicted of felonies or two misdemeanors are barred from the program. However, skeptics question whether the vetting process is sufficient to identify and exclude dangerous individuals.
Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), in a scathing letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanded answers about the administration’s rationale for the extensions. “I am deeply disgusted by your attempts to justify these decisions,” Moreno wrote, citing the administration’s claim that TPS for El Salvador was extended due to “geological and weather events.” He added, "However, a quick review of the current weather in San Salvador, El Salvador currently shows that it is "mostly sunny" and 81 degrees Fahrenheit.”
The Biden administration’s decision has been widely criticized as a last-ditch effort to cement its open-border policies before Trump takes office. By extending TPS protections, Biden has effectively tied the hands of the incoming administration, forcing Trump to navigate a complex legal landscape if he seeks to deport these migrants.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended the move, stating that the extensions are “rooted in careful review and interagency collaboration” to ensure that migrants affected by instability can continue contributing to their communities. However, critics argue that the decision prioritizes the interests of foreign nationals over the safety and well-being of American citizens.
A betrayal of American values
President Biden’s extension of TPS protections for nearly 1 million migrants is a blatant attempt to undermine President-elect Trump’s immigration agenda and shield individuals who may pose a threat to national security. By prioritizing political expediency over the rule of law, Biden has betrayed the trust of the American people and endangered communities across the country. As the Trump administration prepares to take office, it faces an uphill battle to restore order to a broken immigration system and protect the nation from those who seek to exploit its generosity.
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