The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday that approximately 600,000 Venezuelans and over 230,000 Salvadorans living in the United States will be allowed to legally remain in the country for an additional 18 months. The decision comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised stringent immigration policies, is set to take office.
The Biden administration has been a staunch supporter of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), expanding its coverage to include about 1 million individuals. TPS, however, faces an uncertain future under Trump, who previously sought to drastically limit its use during his first term. While federal regulations allow TPS extensions to be terminated early, this has never been done.
DHS also extended TPS for more than 103,000 Ukrainians and 1,900 Sudanese already residing in the U.S., citing ongoing challenges in their home countries.
A Lifeline for Families
For José Palma, a 48-year-old Salvadoran living in Houston since 1998, the TPS extension means continued legal work authorization and stability. Palma, whose four children are U.S. citizens and whose wife is a permanent resident, feared deportation and separation from his family if TPS expired.
“It brings me peace of mind, a breath of fresh air,” Palma said. “It offers me stability.”
Palma works as an organizer for a day laborer organization and sends $400 monthly to support his 73-year-old retired mother in El Salvador.
While TPS provides legal status and work authorization, it does not offer a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship. Critics argue that repeated renewals effectively make the program indefinite, regardless of changes in the home countries’ circumstances.
Reasons for the Extension
DHS justified the extension for Venezuelans, citing the severe humanitarian crisis caused by ongoing political and economic instability under President Nicolás Maduro’s regime. The extension runs from April 2025 to October 2, 2026.
Salvadorans, who initially received TPS after devastating earthquakes in 2001, benefited from an extension due to environmental challenges, including heavy rains and storms in recent years. Their TPS was extended until September 9, 2026.
Broader Implications and Concerns
TPS, created by Congress in 1990, was designed to protect individuals from deportation to countries experiencing natural disasters or civil strife. The status is granted in increments of up to 18 months and has been applied to immigrants from 17 countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Venezuelans currently make up one of the largest groups under TPS.
Advocacy groups have urged the Biden administration to extend TPS for other countries, such as Guatemala and Ecuador, as well as for countries whose TPS designations are nearing expiration, like Nepal, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
“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.”
Personal Stories of Relief
For Venezuelans like Victor Macedo, a 40-year-old activist who fled political persecution and arrived in the U.S. in 2021, the extension brought immense relief. Macedo’s TPS was set to expire in April, leaving him uncertain about his future.
“It is a very big relief. I was afraid,” said Macedo, who works remodeling homes in Davie, Florida. “TPS helps me have legal status, work, and be able to drive.”
As the future of TPS remains uncertain under potential new leadership, the latest extension provides temporary stability for hundreds of thousands of immigrants striving to build their lives in the United States.
