Senators Push Biden to 'Trump-Proof' Immigrant Protections

Democratic senators are urging President Joe Biden to implement protective measures for immigrants before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, Ben Ray Luján, and Alex Padilla are advocating for the extension of protections for DACA recipients and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, emphasizing the importance of their contributions to communities and economies. They seek to 'Trump-proof' these policies by extending and redesignating TPS for countries like Ecuador, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. This push comes as Trump plans mass deportations and stricter immigration policies, which have been a core part of his campaign promises. The senators argue that the Biden administration should leverage its remaining time to secure immigrant communities amidst fears of increased deportations under Trump. The Biden administration has already expanded the foreign-born population significantly since 2021, raising concerns among conservatives about the use of TPS to legitimize illegal immigration.