The Department of Homeland Security is Taking Action to Increase Border Enforcement

The Department of Homeland Security DHS is increasing enforcement across the Mexico-US

border, expediting work authorizations, and deciding to determine and extend Temporary

Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan citizens. Due to the unsafe country conditions in

Venezuela, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, has decided to

redesignate and extend TPS for Venezuelan nationals.

President Biden has called on Congress to pass an immigration reform. The Congress still needs

to sign a reform. The Biden Administration has been using limited resources to secure the

border and build a comprehensive immigration system. DHS is urging the passage of fully

funded emergency appropriations.

DHS has requested Congress to pass a $4 billion supplemental funding to address the need for

DHS to continue protecting and managing the border. DHS has also asked for more than $770

million from 69 partner organizations in Fiscal Year 2023 to support communities receiving

migrants.

DHS continues to work with international partners to remove and return migrants. Since May

12, 2023, DHS has removed or returned over 253,000 individuals. This is more individuals

removed than before the COVID-19 pandemic started and pre-Title-42. ICE is doubling

international removal flights.

For individuals paroled into the United States, DHS is working on expediting their employment

authorizations. Individuals who apply for TPS are eligible to apply for work authorization

immediately. USCIS will increase the maximum validity period of a work authorization initial or

renewal to 5 years for certain immigrants. Immigrants admitted as refugees, recipients of

withholding of removal, applicants for asylum or granted asylum, adjustment of status, or

cancellation of reduction might be the categories included in the increased period.

These new actions taken by USCIS are to improve the processing times on employment

authorizations. The automatic extension will restore the ability to work for thousands of

immigrants whose work permits expired through no fault of their own.

DHS is also extending and redesignating TPS for Venezuelan nationals for 18 months for

individuals who started living in the United States on or before July 31, 2023. Thousands of

Venezuelan citizens living there can apply for work authorizations immediately. TPS also

provides temporary protection from deportation and allows them to work legally.

If you or anyone you know can apply for TPS, please call Pikes Peak Immigration to schedule a

consultation today.