U.S. Grants Temporary Protection and Work Permits to 472,000 Venezuelan Migrants Amid Border Crisis

The U.S. government has announced that it will grant temporary deportation relief and access to work permits to nearly half a million Venezuelans already in the country. This move comes in response to calls by Democrats to help newly arrived migrants work legally. The decision will make approximately 472,000 Venezuelans who were in the U.S. on or before July 31 eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for a period of 18 months. It is important to note that some 243,000 Venezuelans already have TPS status, which was renewed last year.

President Joe Biden, a Democrat seeking reelection in 2024, has faced a significant increase in illegal border crossings, particularly from migrants fleeing economic and political turmoil in Venezuela. Democrats, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, have been urging Biden to expand work access for newly arrived migrants to ease the strain on local and state resources. The expansion of protected status for Venezuelans is seen as a necessary response due to the increased instability and lack of safety in Venezuela. The strained diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela have made it challenging for the U.S. to deport Venezuelans back to their home country.

However, an agreement with Mexico has facilitated the deportation of thousands of non-Mexican migrants, including Venezuelans, to Mexico in recent months. To address the ongoing border crisis, the Pentagon will deploy an additional 800 active-duty troops to the border, on top of the 2,500 National Guard troops already deployed. Additionally, the Biden administration plans to expand a program launched in May to rapidly process migrant families seeking asylum and potentially deport them.

In an effort to streamline the immigration process, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will increase the validity period of work permits for certain immigrants, including asylum-seekers, to five years. This will allow the government to focus on processing new applications. This development is a significant victory for congressional Democrats and leaders in cities like New York that have been dealing with the challenges of housing and supporting thousands of migrants.

The Biden administration has demonstrated a willingness to use Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on an unprecedented scale, making record numbers of migrants from various countries eligible for the program. This move has faced criticism from Republicans who argue that TPS has been misused to grant legal status to migrants for extended periods of time. While the Biden administration hopes that expanding TPS for Venezuelans will dissuade further illegal migration, concerns remain about the ongoing border crisis. The administration has implemented a carrots and sticks strategy to address this issue, but illegal border crossings have remained at record levels.