A coalition of 138 immigrant, civil, and human rights organizations is urging President-elect Joe Biden to take immediate executive action to protect vulnerable immigrants in light of President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations.
The groups argue that Biden can enact relatively simple measures to shield immigrants from heightened enforcement under the incoming administration, which is expected to intensify immigration crackdowns.
In a letter to Biden, the coalition expressed concern that Trump’s campaign promises could soon lead to a “cruel and chaotic” immigration system. They warned that the livelihoods of millions of immigrants — including farmworkers, small business owners, and families — are at risk, urging the Biden-Harris administration to act swiftly to protect those at risk of deportation and family separation.
During his first term, Trump sought to scale back programs such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). If Trump succeeds in ending or significantly reducing these programs, hundreds of thousands of immigrants could lose their protected status and be at risk of deportation.
The coalition, which includes the Service Employees International Union, Latino Victory Fund, Voto Latino, and CASA, is calling on Biden to ensure that individuals eligible for TPS and other temporary protections are not detained in immigration facilities, where they could become easy targets for deportation.
The groups are also urging the Biden administration to expedite the processing of TPS and Deferred Enforced Departure applications. These programs offer protection to nationals from countries experiencing man-made or natural disasters or those deemed too dangerous for repatriation.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are currently 863,880 approved TPS petitions, though the number of active beneficiaries is likely lower due to attrition. However, many eligible immigrants, particularly from Haiti and Venezuela, may still need to apply.
In addition to TPS and DACA protections, the groups are advocating for safeguards for DACA recipients, including expedited renewal applications and advanced parole requests, which allow beneficiaries to return to the U.S. after traveling abroad.
While DACA has been a focal point of the immigration debate, its active beneficiary pool has dwindled to about 535,000, down from more than 800,000. New applications have been blocked by a court order, further limiting the program’s reach.
The coalition is also calling for protections for farmworkers, seasonal workers, and those seeking asylum. They want to ensure work permits are renewed and that protections are extended to refugees.
Immigrant advocacy groups are preparing for a potential crackdown under the Trump administration, drawing on past experiences to identify legal measures that could help protect vulnerable immigrants. “There’s no doubt that Trump will impose drastic changes to our immigration system and expand enforcement. We must act now,” they warned.
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