FOX First: In his first letter as a senator, newly sworn-in Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) asks the Department of Homeland Security about extending deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people. We sent a strict survey requesting answers to the following questions. Foreigners from many countries.
“I write to express my sincere concern about the extension of the Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) designation for El Salvador, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Sudan,” Moreno said Friday in a statement to Alejandro of the Department of Homeland Security.・This was stated in a letter to Secretary Mayorkas. “These 18-month extensions will allow these noncitizens to remain in the United States until the fall of 2026, when their designation expires.”
“These decisions were shamefully made by the outgoing administration 10 days before President Donald J. Trump was sworn into office. Voters overwhelmingly rejected the Biden-Harris administration’s open borders policy. After suffering a crushing defeat in the 2024 presidential election, Some of you may think, you finally understand the mission of the American people, yet you continue to completely ignore the will of the majority of voters by unilaterally allowing nearly 1 million non-citizens into the country. without original authorization to remain in the United States.”
DHS announced Friday that it will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador, Venezuela, Sudan, and Ukraine for an additional 18 months beyond its current expiration date.
Red State AGS welcomes President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration after four years of battle with Biden
Sen. Bernie Moreno (left) and President Joe Biden (right) (Getty)
TPS provides protection from deportation and work authorization to citizens residing in the United States from countries deemed unsafe. DHS cited environmental disasters in El Salvador, including storms and heavy rains, saying they caused “significant but temporary” disruptions to living conditions. He also mentioned the political and economic crisis in Venezuela, the political instability in Sudan, and the ongoing conflict with Russia in Ukraine.
In a letter to Mayorkas, Moreno criticized the government’s rationale for the move.
“I am also extremely disgusted by your attempts to justify these decisions,” Moreno wrote. “For example, according to your department, the extension of TPS status for 234,000 non-citizens is due to “geological and meteorological phenomena” in El Salvador. But a quick check of the current weather in San Salvador, El Salvador shows that the temperature is currently “mostly sunny” at 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
New report reveals huge number of illegal immigrants benefiting from Biden-Harris administration’s ‘quiet amnesty’
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a hearing on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s budget request on April 18, 2024, at the U.S. Capitol. (Getty Images)
This move does not redesignate countries with this status. This means that only countries currently protected by the TPS will be eligible for an extension, and no new applications will be accepted. Venezuela’s extension applies to approximately 600,000 citizens. El Salvador applies to 232,000 people. In the case of Ukraine, this applies to approximately 103,000 people. Approximately 1,900 people in Sudan will be affected. Venezuela’s extension would run until October 2026, while El Salvador’s extension would run until September 2026, both of which were scheduled to end in the spring of 2025.
Such moves against El Salvador and Venezuela in particular could complicate the Trump administration’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants from those countries. Venezuelans are in particular focus following the rise of the Venezuelan gang Torren de Aragua, but El Salvador is the birthplace of the MS-13 gang.
Mr. Moreno’s letter asked Mr. Mayorkas to answer a series of questions, some of which related to concerns about MS-13.
“How many MS-13 members are currently known to exist in the United States?” Moreno asked. “How many TdA members are currently known to be in the United States? How many non-citizens with suspected ties to MS-13 and/or TdA remain in this country due to TPS designation? Is that so?”
The letter also provides information on sources and data on “geological and meteorological phenomena” cited by the government, information on the vetting process for these people, and how the government will ensure these immigrants do not commit crimes in the United States. We are also seeking answers as to whether they are guaranteed. state.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“DHS has responded directly to Congressional inquiries through official channels, and the Department will continue to respond appropriately to Congressional oversight,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement.
The ministry added that a series of earthquakes that disrupted living conditions in El Salvador affected the extension of entry for foreigners from the country. The department added that it had implemented “enhanced screening measures” to identify gang members.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
While the first Trump administration moved to reduce the number of countries designated as TPS, the Biden administration has made extensive use of TPS, designating or redesignating many countries, including Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Haiti. Currently, 17 countries are designated as TPS.
President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance have expressed a desire to reduce TPS, especially for Haiti, once they take office.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw contributed to this report
