On Wednesday, September 20, the Biden Administration announced it would offer legal status and work permits to nearly half a million Venezuelan migrants.
This effort comes as the United States struggles with the rising numbers of asylum seekers fleeing the South American country and other parts of the world.
Biden Admin To Expand TPS To Nearly Half-a-Million Venezuelan Migrants
Former vice president Joe Biden speaks to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on November 1, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Biden addressed the consequences of U.S. disengagement from world leadership at the event.
According to the Associated Press, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that it plans to expand the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Venezuela.
Specifically, the upcoming TPS expansion will cover 472,000 Venezuelan immigrants who arrived in the United States on July 31. Once this effort begins, it will allow them to find work easily and legally.
The Biden Admin's latest effort to help asylum seekers is expected to appease Democratic leaders, who have been pressuring the government to provide more assistance to immigrants. Legal work permits are among the key demands of numerous Democratic mayors and governors struggling to accommodate the increasing numbers of immigrants.
The latest TPS expansion will cover the 242,700 Venezuelan migrants already qualified for the program. Analysts said that the Temporary Protected Status is a big deal for the US since Venezuelan immigrants account for many asylum seekers in the US.
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US Officials Thank Biden Administration
Stranded migrants, mostly from Venezuela, get on a boat in the Colombian port town of Necocli, to cross into neighbouring Panama to continue their journey towards the United States, on October 11, 2022.
CBS News reported that the Biden Administration's TPS expansion is a big win for congressional Democrats and other city leaders, such as NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
Recently, Adams shared how New York City has struggled to house thousands of asylum seekers. He said 200 hotels, tent cities, shelters, and other facilities cannot accommodate them.
The NYC mayor even said the rising number of immigrants could lead to the city's downfall. Because of this, he commended the US government for expanding the Temporary Protected Status.
"Our administration and our partners across the city have led the calls to 'Let Them Work,' so I want to thank President Biden for hearing our entire coalition, including our hard-working congressional delegation," said Eric Adams.
The NYC leader added that the TPS expansion is a major step that can bring hope to thousands of Venezuelan migrants in the city's care.
US President Joe Biden has been using the Temporary Protected Program to help migrants from Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan, Haiti, Afghanistan, and other countries in chaos.
But, the Biden Administration is also careful regarding TPS expansions since officials believe it could encourage immigrants to cross the US-Mexico border illegally.
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