The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which safeguards nearly a million immigrants from 17 countries, faces significant changes as the current U.S. administration rolls back recent extensions. Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, has rescinded an 18-month extension for the TPS program that was previously enacted by former President Joe Biden's administration. This decision impacts over 600,000 Venezuelans, among others, and places the program's future in jeopardy.
The TPS program allows individuals to remain in the United States temporarily when returning to their home country is unsafe due to extraordinary circumstances such as armed conflict or natural disasters. Former President Joe Biden's Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, extended this program in January for an additional 18 months. This extension aimed to provide temporary relief for nationals from countries like Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Lebanon.
Despite these efforts, the Trump administration had previously attempted to curtail TPS enrollment during Donald Trump's first term. However, federal courts consistently blocked these attempts. The Trump administration had suggested during election campaigns that they intended to scale back or end TPS and similar programs, pursuing a broader agenda of mass deportations.
Noem's recent decision to rescind the extension means she must decide by Saturday whether to allow protections that are set to expire in April to renew automatically for another six months. This development has left many with an uncertain future in the U.S., as TPS does not offer a direct pathway to citizenship but provides legal authority for its beneficiaries to stay in the country temporarily.
“Before he left town, Mayorkas signed an order that said for 18 months, they were going to extend protection to people on Temporary Protected Status, which meant they were going to be able to stay here and violate our laws for another 18 months.” – Noem
Critics have voiced concerns over the impact of this rollback. Immigration advocate Aaron Reichlin-Melnick highlighted the precarious situation now faced by many individuals under TPS protection.
“By taking this action, Secretary Noem is throwing over 600,000 into a state of ongoing bureaucratic limbo,” – Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
“People will no longer have any certainty as to whether they can stay in the country legally through the end of the year.” – Aaron Reichlin-Melnick