Joe Biden is swinging on his way out. He wants to make life hell for Trump.
Because President Biden just signed off on amnesty for millions of illegals.
Biden Administration Extends Deportation Protections for Venezuelans Amid Ongoing Crisis
In a significant move, the Biden administration announced an extension of deportation protections for nearly one million foreign nationals living in the United States, including hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans. On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that more than 900,000 individuals currently benefiting from Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be able to register for an 18-month extension, offering them continued protection from deportation.
The extension primarily impacts approximately 600,000 Venezuelans residing in the U.S., who will now be able to stay in the country until at least October 2026. This decision comes just days before President Joe Biden prepares to leave office and President-elect Donald Trump is set to take power. The move is part of the Biden administration’s immigration policy, which has been under intense scrutiny as Trump’s return to the White House is expected to usher in tougher stances on immigration, including a potential crackdown on TPS protections.
The TPS extension is primarily attributed to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. According to DHS, the country is facing a dire political and economic situation under the leadership of socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, making it unsafe for many Venezuelans to return home. In its statement, the DHS emphasized that the conditions in Venezuela—including political instability, economic hardship, and severe shortages of basic necessities such as food, medicine, and fuel—continue to create an environment that endangers citizens and foreign nationals alike.
“The extension of TPS is due to extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent eligible Venezuelan nationals from safely returning,” the DHS explained. “After reviewing the country conditions in Venezuela and consulting with interagency partners, it was determined that an 18-month TPS extension is warranted based on the severe humanitarian emergency the country continues to face due to political and economic crises under the inhumane Maduro regime.”
DHS further highlighted that these conditions have led to “high levels of crime and violence,” which have exacerbated the already dire living conditions in Venezuela, making it impossible for many to safely return.
Established in 1990, TPS provides deportation protections and work eligibility to foreign nationals from countries experiencing dangerous conditions that prevent their safe return. These conditions may include ongoing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other significant challenges that render returning to their home country unsafe. TPS is a humanitarian tool used to protect those who have been living in the U.S. for extended periods and cannot safely return to their countries of origin.
The TPS extension for Venezuelans follows the Biden administration’s commitment to immigration reform in the form of amnesty, though it is also seen as an urgent move before the incoming Trump administration takes office. Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern that, once Trump assumes the presidency, he may take steps to end or scale back TPS protections for nationals of various countries, including Venezuela. Some lawmakers have described the remaining days of Biden’s presidency as a “critical window” to extend protections before the shift in leadership.
Without this extension, Venezuelans currently protected under TPS would have been required to leave the U.S. by April 2025. The new extension means that these individuals, many of whom have been living in the U.S. for several years, can stay until at least October 2026, offering them more stability amid the uncertainty.
The Growing Threat of Organized Crime
While the TPS extension provides vital protection for Venezuelans, the U.S. has also faced growing concerns about criminal activity linked to some of the migrants arriving from the country. Specifically, the rise of Tren de Aragua, a dangerous international crime syndicate originating from Venezuela, has raised alarms. The group is believed to be responsible for a range of criminal activities across the U.S., including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and violent crime.
Tren de Aragua’s presence has been especially noted in areas such as Aurora, Colorado, where an internal investigation revealed that members of the gang had taken control of several apartment buildings, using them to further their criminal enterprises. In one notable case from December 2024, a couple in Aurora was allegedly taken hostage by suspected members of the gang, dragged to one of the occupied apartment buildings, and tortured.
This criminal activity has led to increased scrutiny of Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. The DHS has acknowledged that certain individuals from Venezuela may be linked to the Tren de Aragua syndicate. According to an internal DHS document, hundreds of Venezuelan migrants in the U.S. are potentially connected to the gang, prompting the department to initiate a crackdown on gang members.
“As a part of our work to counter Tren de Aragua TdA, DHS has an ongoing operation to crack down on gang members through re-screening certain individuals previously encountered, in addition to the rigorous screening and vetting at the border,” a DHS spokesperson stated in response to the leaked report. “All individuals confirmed or suspected to be gang members are referred for criminal prosecution or detained and placed into Expedited Removal.”
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