The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended temporary protected status (TPS) to nearly 1 million immigrants living in the United States, just days before a possible deportation campaign by the incoming Trump administration. The move meets a legal requirement to assess conditions in beneficiaries’ home nations and applies to countries with ongoing conflicts or natural disasters.
The extension affects about 85% of the total 1.1 million immigrants with TPS, including Venezuelans, Salvadorans, Ukrainians, and Sudanese. Venezuela’s protection is renewed for 18 months, with over 600,000 eligible to renew through October 2026. The protections also apply to 232,000 Salvadorans, 103,700 Ukrainians, and 1,900 Sudanese.
Critics argue that repeated extensions of TPS flout the temporary intent of the law and bestow long-term residency on immigrants without a path to citizenship. However, the Biden administration claims the extension is necessary due to severe humanitarian emergencies in the affected countries.
The decision comes as Trump’s transition team prepares for the largest deportation campaign in US history, targeting immigrants with criminal records. The DHS extensions are seen as a last-ditch effort to protect vulnerable populations before the new administration takes office.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/01/10/el-salvador-temporary-protected-status