Biden administration to offer thousands of Venezuelans temporary protections

The Biden administration plans to offer nearly a half-million Venezuelan nationals temporary permission to live and work in the country legally, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday night. Driving the news: DHS plans to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelan migrants who arrived by July 31, 2023. Venezuelans currently qualify for TPS if they arrived by March 8, 2021. The department expects some 472,000 Venezuelans will become newly eligible for TPS under the latest designation. Why it matters: Expanding who qualified for temporary protections was one of several asks politicians in blue states made to the Biden administration so migrants in shelter could start working sooner. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called on the federal government to extend TPS for Venezuelans last week while she and other lawmakers visited the Roosevelt Hotel in New York, which is housing some 850 migrants families. Flashback: Congress created TPS in 1990 to offer protections to migrants fleeing natural disasters or war in their home countries. The protections typically last two years at a time, though the federal government has authorized TPS holders from various countries to renew their protections several times. The big picture: More than 7.3 million people have fled Venezuela in recent years, according to the United Nations. Go deeper: U.S. extends temporary protections for immigrants from 4 countries Share on facebook (opens in new window) Share on twitter (opens in new window) Share on linkedin (opens in new window) Share on email (opens in new window) Go deeper Ivana Saric Ivana Saric Updated 1 hour ago - World Biden announces $325 million in Ukraine aid during Zelensky visit Presidents Biden and Zelensky with first ladies Jill Biden and Olena Zelenska at the White House on Sept. 21. Presidents Biden and Zelensky with first ladies Jill Biden and Olena Zelenska at the White House on Sept. 21. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images President Biden announced a new $325 million aid package for Ukraine during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit Thursday. Why it matters: Zelensky's visit comes at a crucial moment for Ukraine, as it seeks to shore up support and secure additional funding for its counteroffensive against Russia. Congress is officially heading home for the weekend after conservative hardliners once again tanked plans to fund the government, forcing House GOP leaders to abandon their latest plan to avert a shutdown on Oct. 1. Why it matters: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has struggled for weeks to find a solution that can garner enough Republican support to pass on the floor. After momentary optimism following Wednesday night's 2.5-hour conference meeting, the House GOP has again reverted to dysfunction. Justin Trudeau speaks at a U.N. Security Council meeting on September 20. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images India suspended visa services for Canadian nationals on Thursday, marking a sharp escalation in the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Driving the news: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this week alleged that agents of the Indian government may have been involved in the June killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, on Canadian soil. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.