The Biden administration extends Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to 600,000 Venezuelans and over 200,000 Salvadorans in the U.S. just 10 days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, who had promised to implement stricter immigration policies. This extension allows these migrants to stay for an additional 18 months, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which cited the “inhumane” regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was beginning his third six-year term. TPS was also granted to around 100,000 people from Ukraine and 1,900 from Sudan.
This decision fulfills a Biden pledge to protect some of the most vulnerable migrants by extends, while also anticipating any attempts by the incoming Trump administration to alter or end protections for these groups. TPS, which prevents deportation and permits legal employment in the U.S., has been criticized by Republicans, who argue that it encourages illegal immigration. The Biden administration has expanded the program significantly.
In recent years, Venezuelans have been among the largest groups of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to seek asylum. Initially, the TPS program for Venezuela had broad support. Currently, about 1 million people from 17 countries are protected under TPS in the U.S.
Trump, who has repeatedly stated his intention to revoke TPS protections, attempted to end the program for various countries during his first term. He specifically mentioned that he would revoke protections for Haitian migrants, suggesting they should be returned to their country. Haitian migrants have become a focal point of disinformation, particularly after Trump made unfounded claims that immigrants were harming pets. TPS for Haitian migrants is set to expire in February 2026.
TPS was established under President George H.W. Bush as part of the Immigration Act of 1990, providing protections for foreigners already in the U.S. due to political turmoil, natural disasters, or armed conflict in their home countries.
For some countries, such as El Salvador, protections have been renewed for decades under multiple administrations. El Salvador first entered the program in early 2001 following devastating earthquakes, with more than 230,000 Salvadorans benefiting from the program. DHS justified the latest renewal due to ongoing environmental disasters, including severe storms and heavy rainfall in 2023 and 2024.
Protections for Venezuelans were extended in response to the “humanitarian emergency” caused by the political and economic crises under Maduro’s regime. Maduro’s recent swearing-in has been met with widespread international condemnation, with accusations that he illegally retained power after losing the election.
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