The Department of Homeland Security announced that about 600,000 Venezuelans and more than 230,000 Salvadorans living in the United States can legally remain another 18 months under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This extension provides stability for individuals like José Palma, a Salvadoran who has lived in the U.S. since 1998 and supports his family. TPS gives legal authority to be in the country but doesn’t offer a direct path to citizenship. The program was created in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries facing natural disasters or civil strife.
The Biden administration has been supportive of TPS and recently extended protections for Ukrainians, Sudanese, Venezuelans, and Salvadorans. The future of TPS, however, remains uncertain under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed hardline immigration policies.
Advocates have been pressuring the Biden administration to extend TPS for more countries beyond El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. While the recent extensions are seen as a small victory, concerns remain for countries like Nepal and Guatemala whose TPS statuses are expiring soon.
Victor Macedo, a Venezuelan who sought refuge in the U.S. in 2021 due to threats in his home country, expressed relief at the news of the TPS extension. This extension allows individuals like him to have legal status, work, and drive. The TPS extension is crucial for many immigrants facing uncertain futures in the U.S. due to political and economic crises in their home countries.
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