Biden should extend protections for illegal immigrants before Trump administration: 'Nobody is safe'

The Biden administration should grant deportation protections and work permits to illegal immigrants in the U.S., as a Democratic senator urges them to do so before the Trump administration's expected mass deportation campaign.

I urge President Biden to use his power to safeguard immigrant families, as Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., stated in a post on X.

The Department of Homeland Security administers Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which grants work permits and protection from deportation to nationals already residing in the U.S.

The Biden administration has used the TPS program to safeguard hundreds of thousands of nationals from Haiti and Venezuela.

The Biden administration has aimed to enhance security measures for DACA recipients, who are undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as minors.

"Cortez Masto stated on MSNBC on Tuesday that TPS recipients are part of their communities and the president can only take legal action to extend their statuses. However, she emphasized that it's not just TPS recipients who need help. She hopes the president will quickly process DACA recipients' applications so they can continue to be a part of the country they grew up in, just like TPS recipients."

The Trump administration attempted to end DACA and decreased the use of TPS, and it is predicted that the next administration will either terminate TPS for numerous nationalities or let it expire without renewal.

The Trump campaign's pledge to initiate a large-scale expulsion campaign was cited by Cortez Masto as justification for the prolongation of TPS and the enhancement of DACA safeguards.

"The administration must act now to protect TPS and DACA recipients, ensuring their families' safety and certainty, as mass deportation is imminent, she stated."

The Biden administration recently extended and redesignated TPS for Lebanese nationals, allowing new individuals not initially included to apply for protection.

Approximately 11,000 Lebanese nationals would be eligible for both TPS and Deferred Enforcement Departure, which are similar executive authorities administered by the president.