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 email (opens in new window) Greater Rochester Enterprise Sponsored Content by Greater Rochester Enterprise 250+ Food and Beverage Manufacturers creating hub in the Greater Rochester, NY region Rooted in the Greater Rochester, NY region All the ingredients to grow your food or beverage business. The applesauce in your child’s lunchbox. The extra shot of syrup in your morning latte. The pasta with tomato sauce on your dinner plate. The... Read more. Menendez gives up committee gavel, faces Dem calls to resign Sen. Bob Menendez. Photo: Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) on Friday surrendered his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after being indicted on bribery charges. The big picture: That may not be the end of Menendez's political headaches as multiple Democrats in New Jersey and beyond have called for his resignation. Border crossings by migrant families hits record high Migrants waiting to be processed on the Ciudad Juarez side of the border on Sept. 21, 2023 in El Paso, Texas. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images August brought another overwhelming wave of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border — including a record number of family members crossing illegally, according to government data released Friday. Why it matters: After initial optimism that President Biden's new policies were working, immigration officials are again scrambling. Share on email (opens in new window) Erin Doherty Erin Doherty 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy Biden: Kids' safety from gun violence "is on the ballot" President Joe Biden addresses the United Nations General Assembly Leader's Reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on September 19, 2023. President Biden addresses the United Nations General Assembly Leader's Reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Sept. 19. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images President Biden condemned the "totally unacceptable" rise in gun violence in the U.S. during a speech Friday after launching the first-of-its-kind White House office of gun violence prevention. Driving the news: "If members of the Congress refuse to act, then we'll need to elect new members of Congress that will act, Democrat or Republican," Biden said Friday.