Biden Extends Migrant Protection Programs Trump Promised to End

The Biden administration announced Friday an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from several countries, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to remain legally in the United States. The decision expands protections to more than 1 million individuals, marking a stark contrast to former President Donald Trump's efforts to roll back the program.

About 1,900 Sudanese, 103,700 Ukrainians, 232,000 Salvadorans and 600,000 Venezuelans will now be able to stay in the U.S. for another 18 months, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program, which was created by Congress in 1990, grants legal work authorization and deportation protections to immigrants from countries suffering from natural disasters or armed conflict.

Why It Matters

President Biden's decision comes amid growing political pressure from both immigration advocates and conservative critics. TPS allows immigrants to work and live legally in the U.S., but it does not provide a pathway to citizenship, leaving beneficiaries reliant on periodic renewals.

The move also highlights the stark policy divide between Biden and Trump on immigration. The former president repeatedly sought to end TPS protections during his administration but faced legal challenges. Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, have vowed to scale back the program if re-elected, as part of a broader push for mass deportations.

What to Know

Under the new DHS directive, TPS for Venezuelans will now run until October 2, 2026, while Salvadorans will be protected until September 9, 2026. The extensions for Ukrainians and Sudanese provide an additional 18 months of protection.

DHS cited ongoing environmental and political crises as justification for the decision. In El Salvador, severe storms and heavy rains in recent years have made it unsafe for many individuals to return. For Venezuelans, the designation is tied to the country's ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis under President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump has explicitly promised to eliminate TPS protections, calling them an abuse of temporary relief measures. During his first administration, he attempted to phase out protections for multiple countries, including El Salvador, Haiti, and Honduras, but was blocked by legal challenges. His 2024 campaign rhetoric reiterated plans to drastically limit TPS designations and prevent future extensions—arguing that the program creates a de facto permanent status for immigrants.

For many immigrants, the extension represents stability in uncertain times. José Palma, a 48-year-old Salvadoran who has lived in the U.S. since 1998, said the news was a relief. "It brings me peace of mind, a breath of fresh air," Palma told The Associated Press. "It offers me stability."

What People Are Saying

Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, said in a statement to Newsweek: "As the administration nears the end of its term, we strongly urge President Biden to fulfill his foreign policy commitments and redesignate TPS for countries like Nicaragua, where conditions clearly meet the program's statutory requirements. This is especially urgent for individuals who entered under the Biden administration's own CHNV parole program and face losing deportation protections in the coming weeks."

Guillermo Gallegos, a member of the Salvadoran Assembly, in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "Great news for our brothers living in the United States. The government has announced the extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 more months."

Andrew Good, director of state government relations at NumbersUSA, a right-leaning immigration think tank, posted on X: "Nothing is more permanent than 'Temporary' Protected Status. Will now be in effect for more than 25 years."

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, posted on X: "A gift to the Trump admin, because these grants of 'Temporary' Protected Status were set to expire in March/April & the new USCIS folks wouldn't have had time to fully lawyer-up their cancellation. Both USCIS & the illegals will now have time to prepare."

The Immigration Hub, a left-leaning advocacy group, posted on X: "We commend @POTUS for this decision amid the looming threats of a Trump administration."

Karoline Leavitt, a Trump-Vance transition spokesperson, told Newsweek: "President Trump will enlist every federal power and coordinate with state authorities to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history while simultaneously lowering costs for families. The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, like deporting migrant criminals and restoring our economic greatness. He will deliver."

What's Next

The Biden administration's expansion of TPS is likely to face legal and political challenges, particularly after Trump returns to office. Federal regulations technically allow the program's termination before the extension period ends, though this has never been done before. For now, TPS recipients will remain uncertain about their future in the U.S.