The Biden Administration made a controversial move Tuesday to continue Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 300,000 illegal immigrants. TPS provides illegal immigrants with a means to remain in the United States, without giving them a path to permanent residency or citizenship.
The decision holds particular significance for those from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal, all of whom were impacted by natural disasters, and are now eligible for TPS status in the U.S. The policy reversal was announced by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, citing environmental disasters as the rationale.
This action goes directly against what the Trump Administration attempted to do in 2020: end TPS benefits for these four countries. The move was blocked in federal courts, and a ruling was finally upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Trump administration argued that the countries benefitting from TPS had recovered from the natural disasters and conflicts for which the policy was created.
Critics of Biden's decision argue that this sets a dangerous precedent, and could lead to an inevitable surge of more people attempting to cross the southern border illegally. According to CBS News, since Biden took office, there have been an astounding 1.5 million illegal Immigrant gotaways reported. This number stands in stark contrast to the 415,000 total gotaways reported during the Trump administration in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Not everyone is opposed to the decision, however. Many pro-immigration advocates herald the decision as a victory for those seeking a better life. “This extension of TPS will provide much-needed relief to people who have been struggling to survive in uncertain conditions since Trump repealed the program in 2019,” one immigration advocate said in a statement. They added that the decision reinforces Biden’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations.
The individuals benefitting from the Biden administration’s TPS policy will need to re-register with the federal government. Nationals from El Salvador can have their stays extended from September 10, 2023, to March 9, 2025. Those from Honduras and Nicaragua can stay in the US until July 5, 2025. For those from Nepal, their TPS can be extended from December 25, 2023, to June 24, 2025.
Ultimately, while the decision has solidified a temporary status for 300,000 individuals, it continues to remain unclear as to what will happen to them long-term. As one thing is certain–the Biden Administration has maneuvered its way into yet another divisive issue as they continue the controversial topic of immigration.