Biden Extends Legal Status for Nearly 1 Million Immigrants as Trump Prepares Immigration Crackdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Friday it will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 1 million immigrants from El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela, allowing them to renew work permits and deportation protections. The decision comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, vowing to implement stricter immigration policies.

The extensions will benefit approximately 234,000 Salvadorans, 1,900 Sudanese, 104,000 Ukrainians, and 600,000 Venezuelans, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Salvadorans will have TPS extended through March 2026, while Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela will see their designations extended through October 2026.

TPS is a program that provides legal reprieve to immigrants from countries experiencing war, natural disasters, or other emergencies that make it unsafe to return. The Biden administration has strongly supported the program, but its future is uncertain under Trump, who previously attempted to end TPS protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants during his first term.

“It brings me peace of mind, a breath of fresh air,” said José Palma, a 48-year-old Salvadoran who has lived in the U.S. since 1998. Palma, who works in Houston, is the only member of his family without permanent legal status. His four children are U.S. citizens, and his wife is a permanent resident. “It offers me stability,” he added.

The TPS program does not provide a path to citizenship, leaving recipients reliant on periodic renewals. Conservative critics argue that the program has become a de facto permanent status, regardless of conditions in immigrants’ home countries.

Friday’s announcement coincides with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro‘s controversial third-term inauguration, which has drawn widespread international condemnation. DHS cited Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic crises as justification for the extension. For El Salvador, the department pointed to environmental challenges, including heavy rains and storms over the past two years.

Congress established TPS in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries facing natural disasters or civil strife. Currently, about 1 million immigrants from 17 countries are protected under the program, including those from Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, and Lebanon.

Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, have signaled their intent to scale back TPS and other temporary immigration programs as part of a broader effort to enact mass deportations. During his first administration, Trump attempted to end TPS for El Salvador, but legal challenges stalled the effort.

Advocates have urged the Biden administration to extend TPS protections to additional countries, such as Guatemala and Ecuador, and to safeguard those whose statuses are set to expire soon. “This extension is just a small victory,” said Felipe Arnoldo Díaz, an activist with the National TPS Alliance. “Our biggest concern is that after El Salvador, there are countries whose TPS are expiring soon and are being left out.”

Victor Macedo, a 40-year-old Venezuelan who fled death threats in his home country, expressed relief at the extension. “It is a very big relief. I was afraid,” said Macedo, who works remodeling houses in Davie, Florida. “TPS helps me have legal status, work, and be able to drive.”

The Biden administration’s decision marks one of its final acts on immigration policy before Trump’s inauguration. While the extensions provide temporary relief, the future of TPS remains uncertain as the incoming administration prepares to overhaul U.S. immigration enforcement.