Staff Reports
President Biden has just thrown a wrench into the plans of President-elect Donald Trump with a last-minute immigration stunt that reads like a plot twist in a political thriller. The outgoing administration has decided to extend the “Temporary Protected Status” (TPS) for nearly a million migrants, effectively giving them a pass on deportation. This bold move plays right into the ongoing saga of bureaucratic roadblocks that seem designed to undermine Trump’s clear mandate to enforce immigration laws.
Under the latest decree from Biden’s Department of Homeland Security, migrants from Ukraine, Venezuela, Sudan, and El Salvador are set to receive an extended TPS, preventing deportation for an additional 18 months. These migrants, whether they arrived legally or not, will also be granted work permits to boot. The figures are shocking—around 937,600 foreign nationals are getting a free ticket to stay and work in America while Trump gears up for a crackdown on illegal immigration.
Biden Extends Temporary Status Of 1 Million Migrants So President Trump Cannot Readily Deport Them @BensmanTodd pic.twitter.com/Ohj4xXy5Pb
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) January 11, 2025
One can’t help but notice the timing of this decision. It appears that the Biden administration is scrambling to secure the futures of individuals whose presence in the country is often precarious—not unlike the administration itself. The specified “reasons” for the TPS extensions include arguments about war in Ukraine, political chaos in Venezuela, and a laundry list of issues in Sudan and El Salvador, all of which, while serious, could have been addressed through a more robust immigration policy before Biden’s team decided to hit the snooze button on effective law enforcement.
Biden’s press releases trot out tales of humanitarian crises and rampant violence, painting a dire picture for these countries, but conservative critics see this as a formulaic excuse. Each announcement includes a somewhat laughable disclaimer about vetting migrants for national security risks, suggesting that behind the facade of compassion lies a resistance to the reality that not everyone who enters the U.S. comes with good intentions.
Expectedly, the Trump team has reacted, making it clear that this preemptive strike by Biden will not go unanswered. The incoming administration’s intention to conduct robust deportation operations has been made abundantly clear, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stating that Trump’s plans involve a coordinated effort with state authorities to “clean house” of illegal immigrants who pose a threat to American communities. Trump, it seems, is ready to take names and kick out criminals, and the newly extended TPS is merely an invitation for the Trump administration to draw battle lines.
Analysts from conservative think tanks are viewing this TPS extension as a double-edged sword. While it is certainly perceived as an obstacle, it could also provide a strategic advantage by prolonging the process of deportation—giving Trump’s team time to marshal the necessary legal resources to overturn these last-minute measures. The hope among conservatives is that this chaotic churn in immigration policy will ultimately favor a more stringent approach that aligns with the will of the American people, who are growing increasingly weary of lackluster enforcement of immigration laws.
