President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at a briefing on the White Home in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
Ben Curtis/AP
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Ben Curtis/AP
President Joe Biden on Friday prolonged Momentary Protected Standing for immigrants residing within the U.S. from some nations, together with Venezuela, El Salvador and Ukraine.
Biden’s actions come 10 days earlier than he leaves workplace, and may benefit about one million migrants who will likely be shielded from deportation for as much as 18 months.
Carlos Argueta, a Salvadoran tax preparer in Houston, instructed NPR he was driving to work when he heard the information.
“I’m happy and grateful because he’s giving us one last opportunity before his tenure ends,” Argueta mentioned in Spanish.
In accordance with the Division of Homeland Safety, practically 234,000 present beneficiaries from El Salvador now have the chance to stay within the nation and renew their work allow.
Biden additionally prolonged TPS for about 600,000 folks from Venezuela and 100,000 Ukrainians.
TPS was created by Congress in 1990 as a part of the Immigration Act.
That 12 months, El Salvador grew to become the primary nation to be granted TPS for two years as a result of civil conflict. It was renewed in 2001 after a sequence of devastating earthquakes. The nation’s TPS designation has been supported by each Republicans and Democrats since then.
Ana, 69, left El Salvador for the U.S. in 1996. She has been a beneficiary of TPS since 2001.
She mentioned she reapplies to maintain her standing present each 18 months. She works as a janitor in Houston and says she information her taxes yearly.
Ana requested NPR to not use her final identify as a result of she fears being focused if Donald Trump revokes TPS for El Salvador after he takes workplace.
“I’ve been here for a long time and going back to my country, at this age, and not being able to do anything,” Ana mentioned in Spanish. “It’s an idea that’s hard to fathom.”
Throughout his first time period, Trump tried to revoke the TPS designation for six nations, together with El Salvador, however was blocked by the courts.
The Trump-Vance transition workforce did not reply to questions on Biden’s actions and their plans for TPS. However Trump’s incoming border czar Tom Homan has mentioned this system might be slashed.
In accordance with the Division of Homeland Safety, 17 nations at the moment have TPS designation.
José Palma, a coordinator with the Nationwide TPS Alliance, a company that advocates for laws that may enable TPS holders to get everlasting standing, mentioned ending TPS would devastate households.
“I have for four U.S. citizen kids,” Palma mentioned. “So, the impact of losing TPS will not only be on myself but on the family.”
Walter Martínez, a Salvadoran lodge employee in Las Vegas, mentioned Friday’s announcement was bittersweet.
He mentioned he is relieved that Biden prolonged the TPS for folks from El Salvador. However he is anticipating Trump to take it away.
“I don’t know how much time he’s going to give us, or if he’s going to put us in front of the line to be deported,” Martínez mentioned.
