Mayorkas Grants Amnesty To 850,000 Illegal Immigrants As Border Crisis Worsens

In a controversial decision, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has granted amnesty to 850,000 illegal immigrants just days before President Joe Biden leaves office. The move has sparked outrage among critics who argue it further weakens border security and undermines the rule of law.

Mayorkas expanded the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for 18 months, shielding hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants from deportation. The decision includes 234,000 Salvadorans who originally received TPS after a 2001 earthquake and 600,000 Venezuelans. Mayorkas justified the extension by citing “bad weather” and ongoing economic challenges in these countries.

“El Salvador’s extension of TPS is based on geological and weather events, including significant storms and heavy rainfall in 2023 and 2024,” Mayorkas stated. The Department of Homeland Security also confirmed automatic work permit extensions through March 9, 2026.

Critics argue that conditions in El Salvador have significantly improved, pointing to President Nayib Bukele’s success in reducing gang violence and boosting the economy. Many believe this move rewards lawbreaking and hinders President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for stricter immigration enforcement.

The amnesty for Venezuelans has also raised concerns, with some pointing out that it benefits Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro by allowing opposition members to stay in the U.S. instead of pushing for political change at home. Additionally, the remittances sent back to Venezuela could strengthen Maduro’s grip on power.

Under Mayorkas, the number of migrants receiving TPS has tripled to about one million, including large groups from Haiti, Ukraine and Sudan. This surge has placed further strain on American jobs and housing markets, fueling criticism of the Biden administration’s immigration policies.

However, many argue this sweeping amnesty is a blatant disregard for American sovereignty and leaves the incoming Trump administration with an even more challenging task of restoring border security.