Biden Administration Grants Temporary Protection Status to Over One Million Foreign Nationals
Following the release of millions of illegal foreign nationals into the country through parole programs established by the Biden administration, more than one million individuals were granted temporary protective status (TPS) to prevent deportation. This includes citizens from countries of concern with ties to terrorism.
According to a recent report from the Congressional Research Service as of September 30, 2024, approximately 1,095,115 foreign nationals were granted TPS. These individuals hail from countries such as Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.
In response to escalating violence in Israel, the Biden administration also extended TPS to Palestinians and Lebanese nationals.
Granting of TPS
President Joe Biden continued to extend national emergency orders citing security threats related to terrorism, Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, and other countries, as well as threats associated with weapons of mass destruction and Islamic extremism. The Secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to grant TPS, and the status can last from six to 18 months, often being extended beyond the initial period.
Individuals granted TPS are given deferred enforced departure (DED) status, which is a temporary administrative stay of removal. This status allows them to remain in the country and obtain work authorization. Critics argue that this can lead to job competition with American citizens and strain taxpayer resources due to welfare services provided to TPS recipients.
Current TPS Numbers
Some of the largest numbers of TPS recipients include 260,790 Haitians, 256,625 Venezuelans, 248,775 additional Venezuelans, 52,585 Hondurans, and 63,425 Ukrainians. Palestinians and Lebanese nationals have also been granted TPS and DED status through August 2025 and January 2026, respectively.
Initial TPS was granted to 74,500 Afghans, but concerns have been raised about the lack of a process for their removal once the TPS period ended. Currently, only 9,630 Afghans have TPS status through May 2025.
Policy Changes and Legal Challenges
President Donald Trump had vowed to end TPS, which was established by Congress in the Immigration Act of 1990. During his administration, TPS designations for citizens of Central American countries were terminated. However, President Biden reversed these policies and expanded TPS authorizations.
Legal challenges have been mounted against the termination of TPS designations, with conflicting rulings from different courts. The issue of TPS and DED remains a contentious topic in immigration policy.
Overall, the granting of TPS to over one million foreign nationals underscores the complex and evolving nature of immigration policy in the United States.
