Senate Bill Would Protect Thousands of Migrants From Deportation
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Senate Democrats introduced new legislation to protect hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have had their legal status revoked by the Trump administration.
The so-called Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act would offer "long-term stability" for those under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs, if it is able to pass in a Republican-controlled Congress.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has argued that TPS was abused by the Biden administration, allowing thousands of immigrants from countries including Venezuela, Afghanistan and Haiti to remain in the U.S. for longer than necessary. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the White House to end some of these protections.
The U.S. Capitol Building at dusk on June 21, 2025, in Washington.
The U.S. Capitol Building at dusk on June 21, 2025, in Washington.What To Know
Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada were among the 30 lawmakers backing the legislation that would open the pathway to permanent residency for those who received TPS.
According to a press release from the group, TPS and DED holders in the U.S. for five years or longer would be eligible to apply for a green card, along with their spouse, domestic partner and children, as long as they met certain requirements.
The bill would also make TPS applicants eligible for work and allow them to apply for travel outside the U.S. while their application is pending.
TPS is usually granted for a period of 18 months, and it is up to the Secretary of Homeland Security to discontinue protections or extend them, which has been done for a number of countries for several years, including during the first Trump administration.
Current Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has moved to end protections for those from Venezuela, Haiti, Cameroon, Afghanistan and Nepal since January. Under the Democrat-backed bill, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be required to notify Congress and justify why status was being revoked.
Currently, about a half-million immigrants who were allowed to legally remain in the U.S. on TPS face the chance of deportation, some to countries still experiencing conditions that led to protections being introduced in the first place.
Noem has argued that those situations have eased and that it is time for immigrants to return to their home countries.
What People Are Saying
Senator Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, in a press release: "America has long used the TPS and DED programs to offer special legal protections to individuals in the United States whose lives would be put at extreme risk if forced to return to their countries of origin. As they've sought safety and stability here, TPS and DED recipients have built new lives in America, living here legally for years—sometimes decades—and making important contributions to our communities.
"But the Trump Administration is threatening both the lives they have built and the safety of these individuals—forcing TPS recipients to return to dangerous places like Haiti, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and more. This bill offers much-needed certainty to TPS and DED recipients – providing a path to stay safely in the U.S. and continue to call America their home."
Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO president, in a press release: "Immigrant workers are under unprecedented attack: hundreds of thousands of people have been stripped of their legal status and work authorization, throwing families and industries into chaos and uncertainty.
"Workers with Temporary Protected Status, many of whom have lived and worked in our country for decades, are vital members of our communities and our unions. The SECURE Act is common-sense legislation that would provide TPS holders with stable, permanent lawful status so they can continue to raise their families, work, and contribute to our economy."
What Happens Next
While 30 senators back the bill, it is not clear whether it will pass the chamber or be backed in the House, which is also controlled by Republicans.
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