The Biden administration has authorized extensive overtime for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents to process Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applications for illegal immigrants before a potential change in administration.
At a Glance
- DHS agents instructed to clear TPS application backlog within 120 days
- 30 hours of overtime per pay period offered to expedite processing
- 98% approval rate for TPS applications between October 2023 and June 2024
- Critics argue vetting process is superficial and prone to approvals
- Concerns raised about long-term implications of TPS expansion
Biden Administration’s Push for TPS Processing
The Biden administration has taken unprecedented steps to accelerate the processing of Temporary Protected Status applications for illegal aliens. This move comes as the current administration faces the possibility of a change in leadership following the upcoming election.
Biden Admin Authorizes Mass Overtime To Process Haitian Migrants Before Inauguration Day, Agent Tells Our @LukeRosiakhttps://t.co/7Hwh7YcFUO
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) November 1, 2024
Expedited Processing and Its Implications
DHS agents have been instructed to clear the backlog of TPS applications within 120 days. To achieve this goal, the department is offering up to 30 hours of overtime per pay period. This aggressive approach aims to process applications from countries such as Haiti, Venezuela, and Lebanon rapidly.
The pressure to quickly process applications has led to concerns about the thoroughness of the vetting process. “It’s much easier to approve a case than to deny a case. Denying it comes with a lot of writing and approvals from supervisors,” an agent named Jason explained.
Criticism of the Vetting Process
Critics argue that the vetting process for TPS applicants is superficial. Agents working from home primarily check if applicants self-report criminal activity. FBI background checks only cover U.S. records, not those from applicants’ home countries, raising questions about the effectiveness of the screening process.
“The T in TPS stands for temporary. TPS was never intended to operate to provide rolling amnesty for hundreds of thousands of nationals,” Rep. Thomas Tiffany stated.
The high approval rate of 98% for TPS applications between October 2023 and June 2024 has raised eyebrows. With 344,000 cases pending, mostly from Venezuela, there are concerns about the long-term implications of granting temporary status to such a large number of individuals.
Expanding the TPS Program
The Biden administration’s approach to TPS has expanded beyond its original purpose. Initially intended for migrants from countries deemed unsafe, the list now includes 16 countries, with plans to add 11,000 illegal immigrants from Lebanon. This expansion has blurred the line between legal and illegal immigration, affecting DHS agent morale.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration waved a pen and suddenly made more than 300,00 Haitian border jumpers magically “legal.”
Biden Admin Authorizes Mass Overtime To Process Haitian Migrants Before Inauguration Day, Agent Says
'The American people have a right to know that we’re letting a bunch of people in without even having interviews with them' https://t.co/MOQmWNTSwY— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) November 2, 2024
The transformation of the TPS program under President Biden has raised concerns about the future of immigration policy. With a large number of TPS grantees potentially difficult to locate and remove after their two-year term ends, the long-term consequences of this rapid processing remain uncertain.
