On Friday, the Biden administration announced an extension of temporary protections for almost 1 million immigrants residing in the U.S. from Venezuela, El Salvador, Sudan, and Ukraine.

This decision comes just days before the swearing-in of President-elect Donald Trump, who has stated plans to terminate “Temporary Protected Status” for immigrants from certain nations. Republican lawmakers have criticized the program due to its extensions that allow some immigrants, who may have entered or remained in the country unlawfully, to stay for many years.

In multiple statements released on Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that the 18-month extension for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) impacting approximately 937,000 eligible immigrants is justified due to ongoing poor political, economic, or environmental circumstances in their countries of origin.

The extension for around 600,000 Venezuelan nationals is justified by “the significant humanitarian crisis that continues to persist in the country, resulting from its political and economic turmoil.”

This extension allows Venezuelans who arrived in the U.S. by July 31, 2023, to re-register and maintain their TPS until October 2026. It consequently also prolongs their work permits, provided they meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

DHS mentioned that serious environmental issues in El Salvador, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and violent political turmoil in Sudan also justify a TPS extension for immigrants from those nations currently residing in the U.S.

According to DHS, around 232,000 Salvadoran nationals are eligible to re-register for TPS, while nearly 104,000 Ukrainians and 1,900 Sudanese immigrants are also qualified for the extension.

It is important to note that these extended protections do not apply to new applicants, but only to those who have already been granted TPS, according to DHS. The agency confirmed that applicants undergo “thorough national security and public safety checks” to qualify for the program.

The incoming Trump administration has the ability to revoke this extension or eliminate protections, but any such action would require mandated advance notice, according to Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, as noted in his remarks shared on X.

“According to the TPS statute, the DHS Secretary can end TPS for any country, but must provide at least 60 days’ notice beforehand,” stated Reichlin-Melnick.

After a recent issue in Springfield, Ohio, regarding the influx of Haitian migrants, many of whom are TPS recipients, Trump stated in an interview with News Nation in October, “Absolutely, I would revoke it and bring them back to their country.”

The Biden administration had previously announced an 18-month extension for Haitians with TPS in June.