The Biden administration’s TPS expansion will alleviate hardship for Venezuelan migrants and benefit U.S. taxpayers.
the Biden administration announced it will expand a program granting temporary work permits and deportation relief to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that he made the decision because conditions in Venezuela “prevent their safe return.” This move could potentially have a huge impact on New York City, which has been grappling with the arrival of over 110,000 migrants in the last year.
Mayorkas’ announcement is as welcome as it is overdue. It is grounded in established law and smart public policy. Allowing some Venezuelan migrants to work will benefit cities, states, and the federal government. It will enable asylum-seekers to become more independent and self-sufficient. Most importantly, it is a practical solution to a real problem.
Under the administration’s plan, Venezuelan nationals who were in the U.S. before July 31 will be eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS is a type of lawful protection extended to people from countries where deportation would be an unsafe or difficult option. This can be due to an armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary conditions. TPS was created by Congress in the Immigration Act of 1990, which gives the Secretary of Homeland Security discretion to designate when TPS would be applied and for how long.
So, to be clear, Mayorkas is exercising authority granted to him by Congress—in contrast to former presidents who have made controversial immigration moves using executive action.
