The Biden Administration has once again exercised executive discretion in immigration policy by expanding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to over 15,000 Ethiopians in the United States. This decision by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas not only allows these individuals to avoid deportation but also grants them the ability to compete for jobs in the American labor market.

Secretary Mayorkas justified this expansion by citing dangerous conditions in Ethiopia that allegedly prevent safe return, though such assessments often precede lengthy delays in reassessment and repatriation. Under the newly announced parameters, approximately 2,300 Ethiopians will have their existing protections extended through December 2025, while an additional 12,800 will be newly eligible for TPS, assuming they confirm residency in the U.S. as of April 11 of this year.

Additionally, Mayorkas has announced measures to ease work and study restrictions for Ethiopian nationals on F-1 student visas. These measures allow them to work more hours and carry a lighter academic load while maintaining their visa status—a move that critics argue dilutes the rigor and intent of student visa conditions.

TPS, established under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990, was initially meant as a short-term humanitarian relief for individuals from countries experiencing acute crises like war or natural disasters. However, it has increasingly become a semi-permanent status with renewals that extend far beyond the emergency conditions originally justifying them. Successive administrations have continued this trend, turning TPS into what many see as a tool for backdoor amnesty.

This expansion of TPS under President Biden adds to the growing number of foreign nationals in the U.S. under such status—now nearly 1.2 million, marking a significant increase from previous counts. This approach reflects a broader pattern in the current administration's immigration policy, which critics argue undermines the integrity of U.S. immigration laws and burdens American workers and resources.