UnidosUS Lauds Biden Administration’s Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Thousands of Latino Immigrants Living and Working in the U.S.

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WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Biden administration announced it will allow over 830,000 immigrants from El Salvador and Venezuela to continue living and working in the U.S. legally under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. The program provides needed relief for individuals coming from certain dangerous or severely unstable countries, offering critical safeguards for these communities. President-elect Donald Trump has previously threatened to terminate TPS entirely, leaving the program’s future uncertain. 

Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, issued the following statement in response: 

“We applaud the Biden administration for taking action to protect more than 830,000 Latino immigrants— many of whom have lived in our country for decades — to remain with their American families, work legally in the United States and continue contributing to our nation’s economy. Research shows that in 2021 alone, TPS-holders contributed more than $2.2 billion in taxes, including almost $1 billion to state and local governments. They also held $8 billion in spending power, which supports countless U.S. businesses. 

“This much-needed and constructive decision will provide relief and peace of mind to thousands of families and communities across our country, and we call on the administration to continue extending TPS designations to other nationalities that still face unsafe and deteriorating conditions in their home countries. Renewing TPS designations will prevent disruptions in our workforce, communities and economy, while also reducing the push factors for migration since TPS-recipients will be able to continue providing for their families living in their countries of origin.”  

Polls consistently show that the majority of Americans favor providing permanent legal status to long-term undocumented residents. Research also supports the contributions made possible by such measures, projecting that pathways to citizenship could add $1.5 trillion to the GDP over the next decade, generate 400,800 jobs and raise eligible individuals’ wages by $4,300. This would boost the wages of all other American workers by $600 — a clear win for our nation’s economy.