Staff Reports
The Biden administration continues to redefine the term “open door policy,” with the Congressional Research Service revealing that the number of foreign nationals allowed to stay in the United States through the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program has surged more than threefold since he took office. What began as a stopgap for nations facing catastrophic crises has morphed into an almost permanent sanctuary for over one million foreign nationals, thanks to a quasi-amnesty strategy that has escalated under Biden.
TPS was established under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990, theoretically designed to shield individuals from countries embroiled in war, famine, or disasters. However, since its inception, several administrations have utilized it to extend immigration benefits beyond what was originally intended. While former presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump showed varying degrees of restraint with TPS renewals, Biden appears to have thrown caution to the wind, expanding TP to an astonishing level not seen before.
The Biden Legacy: Over 1 Million Migrants Shielded from Deportation through Quasi-Amnesty Programhttps://t.co/EhXk7v4264
Programs can be ended. Biden’s is likely illegal. Sorry, but you gotta go!— Johnny Bravo (@johnny_bra6888) December 12, 2024
When President Biden took the reins in January 2021, there were fewer than 320,000 migrants enjoying TPS. Fast forward to now, and the number has skyrocketed, with nationals from 17 countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, and Ukraine, enjoying the perks of a program that many argue has become a lifeline for anyone looking to evade deportation. The concentration of these temporary migrants in states like Florida, Texas, and California suggests a new reality where certain regions are more immigration-friendly than others, leading to concerns about resource allocation and community cohesion.
The most conspicuous aspects of Biden’s immigration policy are evident in the surge of Venezuelan and Haitian migrants receiving TPS. About 900,000 Venezuelans are now either protected by TPS or newly eligible, while more than 300,000 Haitians hopped aboard the TPS train this year alone. Unsurprisingly, this influx mirrors the waves of illegal immigration crashing against the southern border—a trend that has turned border states into unwelcomed sanctuaries.
Senate Democrats appear impatient with Biden’s efforts, urging him to extend TPS to even more individuals who currently lack immigration status, pushing the idea that everyone deserves a shot at the American Dream—so long as they aren’t too concerned about the legal pathway to get there. With the foreign-born population nearing 52 million, which is roughly 15.5 percent of the U.S. population, there are serious discussions about the implications of such rapid growth, prompting fears that by 2040, the foreign-born population could eclipse an unfathomable 82 million.
As debates rage about national security, local resources, and economic impact, Biden’s approach to immigration might just be the ultimate exercise in political gymnastics—one that prioritizes numbers over nuanced discussions, leaving conservatives to ponder the long-term effects of such sweeping changes.
