Biden extends the umbrella of temporary protection for Syrians in America
The administration of US President Joe Biden on Friday extended the temporary protection status of several thousand Syrian immigrants living in the United States, a move early in his presidency in line with his broader pro-immigration program.
The Department of Homeland Security announced that Acting Minister David Bikowski would extend the temporary protection status of about 6,700 Syrians who meet the conditions until September 2022, while allowing about 1,800 others to submit initial applications.
The program gives immigrants who are unable to return safely to their country, including due to natural disasters or armed conflict, the ability to stay and work legally in the United States for a specified period that can be renewed.
Biden, the Democratic president who took office on January 20, pledged a more tolerant approach to refugees and migrants.
His stance contrasts with the hard-line policies of former Republican President Donald Trump, who has backed away from many humanitarian protection measures.
According to Biden's classification, more Syrians in the United States can now request protection under the Temporary Protection regime.
This step is consistent with the US president's broader plans to extend the limits of the protection umbrella provided by the program.
Biden also pledged to grant temporary protection status to immigrants from Venezuela due to its economic conditions, although Trump preempted this step by providing protection through a similar program before he left office.
Moreover, Biden's transition team discussed the possibility of putting Guatemala and Honduras in the program, while it could open the door to protection for more than a million people.
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Umbrella