A group of three Democratic senators is calling on President Joe Biden to secure key migration protections before leaving office in January 2025. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) sent a letter to the president on Wednesday, urging him to take steps to safeguard long-term immigrant communities.
The senators emphasized the importance of extending protections for immigrants, particularly those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), who they say are vital to the nation’s economy and communities.
“We want to ensure that DACA recipients, TPS holders, and other immigrants who contribute to our economy are not left behind,” the senators wrote. They also voiced support for strengthening border security.
The senators’ call comes after President-elect Donald Trump, who won the 2024 presidential race, campaigned on a platform of large-scale deportations. Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris has led to growing concerns about future immigration policies.
Cortez Masto, Padilla, and Lujan, who represent states with diverse political landscapes, are particularly concerned about protecting immigrants in vulnerable situations. They urged Biden to extend TPS for immigrants from countries like Ecuador, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, where harsh conditions make it unsafe for nationals to return.
Republican critics, including Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, have accused Biden of misusing TPS to legitimize immigration they argue is otherwise illegal. The senators’ letter pushes back against such claims, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and humane immigration policies.
The senators also urged Biden to expedite the processing of DACA renewals and advance parole requests before the end of his term.
“We appreciate your consideration of these urgent actions,” they wrote. “Thank you for your service as we work to improve the lives of all Americans.”
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