A Democratic senator is urging the Biden administration to extend protections for illegal immigrants ahead of an expected mass deportation campaign by the incoming Trump administration.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., called on President Biden to act. “President Biden has the power to protect immigrant families, and I’m calling on him to use it,” she posted on X.
She referenced Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that shields nationals from unsafe countries from deportation. TPS also allows work permits. The Biden administration has used it extensively to protect nationals from countries like Haiti and Venezuela.
In addition to TPS, the Biden administration has worked to safeguard those covered by DACA. This Obama-era program protects illegal immigrants who arrived as minors.
“They are part of our communities,” Cortez Masto said on MSNBC. “The president can extend their TPS statuses and process DACA applications quickly. Dreamers deserve to stay in the country they grew up in.”
The Trump administration previously attempted to end DACA and scaled back TPS use. In a second term, it’s expected to terminate or let TPS protections expire for many groups.
Cortez Masto pointed to Trump’s deportation plans to justify the urgent need for action. “They’re going to engage in mass deportation, and nobody’s safe,” she warned. “The administration must act now to protect TPS and DACA recipients, ensuring their families stay together.”
In October, the Biden administration extended TPS for Lebanese nationals. This redesignation allowed new applicants to seek protection. Approximately 11,000 Lebanese nationals became eligible under TPS and Deferred Enforcement Departure.
Cortez Masto emphasized the need for certainty. “Taking action now will bring stability to immigrant communities,” she said. “We must protect these families.”