On January 10, 2025, the Biden administration extended temporary protected status (TPS) to nearly 1 million immigrants currently residing in the United States. The granted TPS program extends to select Venezuelans, Salvadorans, Ukrainians, and Sudanese individuals who will now be eligible to renew their work permits for 18 months.
This decision comes days before Trump is inaugurated into office. In his past term, Trump’s administration attempted to end TPS programs in an effort to tighten border restrictions. TPS faces an uncertain future under Trump and while this extension is a victory, it is legally possible that it could be terminated early.
What is TPS?
Under the TPS program, qualifying immigrants are legally permitted to live and work in the U.S. for up to eighteen months, a timeline that can be extended indefinitely by the federal government.
Note, that TPS does not cover every individual from a nation, and is dependent on specific factors including arrival times. Individuals who do not meet the criteria for TPS, or lose their status, can be subjected to deportation.
While TPS is not a direct pathway to citizenship, certain individuals may be able to leverage the status when obtaining a green card.
Contact an Immigration Lawyer Today
Venezuelans, Salvadorans, Ukrainians, and Sudanese individuals currently residing in the United States should consider contacting an immigration lawyer to determine whether they are eligible for TPS. Legal counsel can also proactively determine additional legal pathways to remain in the country indefinitely.
Reeves Immigration Law Group has over four decades of experience handling a wide range of immigration measures from family reunification to work visas and everything in between. We take pride in our efforts to protect California’s immigrant communities and will continue to do everything in our power to handle the expected turmoil of the new presidential administration, fighting for the rights of immigrants nationally.
Contact a California immigration lawyer today to discuss Biden’s temporary protected status initiative and any other legal concerns.
