The Biden administration has announced a significant measure to provide temporary legal protection to approximately 472,000 Venezuelan migrants who are currently

residing in the United States. This action is aimed at assisting asylum seekers and comes at a time when the number of migrants at the southern border is once again increasing.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made this move, citing the ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela, which has made it unsafe for migrants to return to their home country. The decision extends the temporary protected status designation by 18 months for Venezuelan migrants who arrived in the U.S. prior to July 31 of this year.

This development has garnered support from Democrats who have been advocating for more extensive assistance to migrants seeking asylum. However, it has faced criticism from congressional Republicans, particularly those from Texas, who accuse the Biden administration of exacerbating the border situation.

Under this action, eligible Venezuelan migrants will have the opportunity to work legally in the United States. It adds to the existing 242,700 Venezuelans who already qualified for temporary protected status prior to this announcement. Mayorkas clarified that those who arrived after July 31 without a legal basis to stay will face deportation.

The situation in Venezuela has evolved into a multifaceted crisis over the past decade, prompting at least 7.3 million people to migrate, with most seeking refuge in neighboring Latin American countries. However, more recently, an increasing number of Venezuelans have made their way to the U.S., often undertaking perilous journeys through the hazardous Darien Gap, a remote jungle region between Colombia and Panama known for its treacherous conditions.

In addition to this measure, the Biden administration has deployed an additional 800 military personnel to the southern border and emphasized intensified efforts to prosecute individuals involved in drug or human smuggling into the U.S.

Another significant change welcomed by immigrant advocates is the extension of work permit validity for asylum seekers. The validity period has been increased from two years to five years, which will alleviate financial burdens associated with the renewal process and help reduce the massive backlog of applications within the Homeland Security department.

The recent months have seen fluctuations in apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border. These numbers increased in July and August after initially dropping in May and June when the Biden administration introduced a policy requiring migrants heading to the U.S. border to first seek protection in Mexico. This policy was adopted following the expiration of Title 42, a COVID-19 pandemic-related policy that allowed the U.S. to expel migrants based on virus transmission concerns.

The border town of Eagle Pass, Texas, declared a state of emergency after nearly 6,000 migrants crossed the Rio Grande River from Mexico over a two-day period.

Democratic mayors and governors from major U.S. cities, including New York Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, have praised this action, emphasizing its importance in allowing newly arrived migrants to work legally and contribute to their communities. However, Republican lawmakers like Senator Ted Cruz and Senator John Cornyn of Texas have criticized the move, arguing that it will incentivize more illegal immigration from Venezuela.

The Biden administration has expressed a preference for addressing the migration issue in a bipartisan manner but emphasized the need to take action to manage the situation effectively.

Temporary protected status (TPS) has historically been a contentious issue, with Republicans arguing that a temporary designation should not become a permanent immigration program. The U.S. Congress has been divided over granting TPS to Venezuelans while seeking to terminate the program for countries like Haiti, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Former President Donald Trump attempted to end TPS for those countries, but legal challenges delayed the process. On his final day in office, Trump granted TPS to Venezuelans.

In June, the Biden administration reversed the Trump-era termination of TPS for other nationalities. A minority of Florida's Republican delegation, including Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, had previously expressed support for granting temporary legal protection to Venezuelans, although they did not immediately comment on the Biden administration's decision.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, a Democrat, commended the Biden administration for taking steps to allow hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan families to build new lives and contribute to their community as they seek freedom and opportunity. Photo by Wilfredor, Wikimedia commons.

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