According to reporting from the Caracas Chronicles, Venezuelan-American community leaders are urging President Biden to keep his campaign promise and deliver on the issue of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Notably, as a candidate, President Biden made a specific pledge to extend legal protections to Venezuelans. In this article, our Los Angeles immigration lawyer explains the key things to know about this important immigration policy issue.
What is TPS and How Does it Work?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a type of immigration relief that protects people from deportation. In effect, TPS status gives a recipient temporary lawful authority to remain in the United States even if they are otherwise undocumented. TPS protections are extended if U.S. officials believe that a country is too dangerous for deportation. Over the years, TPS has been extended for a number of different countries, including El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti, and South Sudan.
Unfortunately, in recent years, Venezuela has experienced deep economic and political turmoil. There have long been calls to extend TPS protections to Venezuelans in the United States. A bill granting protection to Venezuelans even passed the House with bipartisan support in 2019—but it was eventually blocked by Senate Republicans.
The Biden Pledge to Extend TPS Protections to Venezuelans
In stark contrast to President Trump, who repeatedly tried to narrow TPS protections, President Biden has consistently supported the program. As part of his comprehensive immigration reform platform, candidate Biden made the following promise for his administration’s agenda:
- Extend TPS to Venezuelans seeking relief from the humanitarian crisis brought on by the Maduro regime.
President Biden has an opportunity to deliver on that pledge. Notably, TPS is an immigration issue on which the executive branch has considerable authority. On TPS, President Biden has the power to reaffirm existing protections and extend help to Venezuelan.
There is Considerable Hope for New Protections for Venezuelans
Many immigrant rights advocates are hopeful for policy action in the first 100 days of the Biden Administration—including on the issue of TPS for Venezuelans. Jose Magaña-Salgado, an immigration policy expert with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., notes that “we really do expect to see a TPS designation within the first month.” Not only did Joe Biden repeatedly stress the general importance of TPS on the campaign trail, but Venezuela was the only specific country he named as a place where immediate help and support is needed.
Get Help From Our Los Angeles TPS Attorney Today
At Goldstein Immigration Lawyers, our Los Angeles immigration law attorney has the knowledge and experience to handle the complete spectrum of TPS cases. We are focused on helping you and your family resolve immigration issues. If you have any questions about temporary protected status, our legal team is more than happy to help. Call us now for a strictly confidential evaluation of your case. With an office location in Los Angeles, we represent clients throughout Southern California.
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