WASHINGTON — Democratic senators are urging President Joe Biden to extend temporary protections for migrants in the U.S. before he leaves office, warning that millions of people could be forced to return to unsafe countries once President-elect Donald Trump retakes the White House. The senators have been quietly urging the White House to take executive actions that would attempt to extend legal protections for migrants into Trump’s administration, and the White House has been discussing what steps to take. But any actions from the outgoing president would happen in the wake of an election that Trump won on promises of hardline immigration enforcement. The Democratic Party is also debating internally how it should approach immigration and border security after its election losses. The Biden administration earlier this week made permanent a rule that extends work authorizations for asylum seekers, but has not made commitments on other priorities for immigration advocates and Democrats. With just weeks remaining before Biden leaves office, several Democratic senators took their pleas public Wednesday. “The urgency of the next 40 days will remain,” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said at a news conference. “So we’re going to keep pressing.” The senators from the Congressional Hispanic Conference urged the White House to re-designate or renew Temporary Protected Status for migrants from Nicaragua, Ecuador and El Salvador, as well as issue an order to expedite renewals for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Over 1 million migrants in the U.S. rely on TPS, which allows people already in the country to stay and work legally if their homelands are deemed unsafe. Trump has suggested he would scale back the program as he looks to implement the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. “We know the incoming administration is going to try to implement chaotic immigration policies that tear our families apart,” said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., adding, “But we have a chance to do something about that right now and give these families as much legal protection and reassurance as possible.” While Trump could attempt to undo some of the actions, they would set up a legal impediment and give migrants stronger legal standing to challenge Trump’s orders. In 2017, the Trump administration announced the end of TPS for Nicaraguans, saying that it was no longer needed. But TPS holders challenged the legality of that decision in a lawsuit in court. Since then, the duration of TPS for Nicaragua depends on a court order from a federal judge. The White House is considering taking action to extend temporary protections for some nations, but nothing has yet been decided, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations. Redesignating protected status for some nations would involve a more serious undertaking because it would grant people the right to stay in the U.S. from the date it was designated and a determination on the safety and security of the nation must be done. The renewal procedure only involves those already in the U.S. who would be allowed to stay longer. In the last months, advocates have ramped up pressure on the Biden administration re-designate Nicaraguan migrants for TPS, which would protect thousands of people from deportation. Hundreds of religious, immigration and human rights organizations argue that the combination of political and environmental circumstances make it unsafe for Nicaraguans to return to their country. “We don’t know how politics can change with Trump and TPS gives us peace of mind,” said Grethel Gomez, a 60-year-old Nicaraguan activist and asylum petitioner who could benefit from TPS. “There is horror of deportation, and this would give us security.” Gomez’s son was a human rights activist in Nicaragua and was detained for 45 days. She took to the streets to protest and ask for his release and was also persecuted, she said. Gomez left Nicaragua clandestinely and arrived in the United States with a tourist visa in 2021. Less than a year later she requested asylum, but she has not yet had any interviews and fears that her process will be hindered during the Trump administration. TPS could also benefit those Nicaraguans who came under a separate Biden program called humanitarian parole and have temporary legal status that expires after two years. Trump has said that he will end the parole program. Other immigrants, such as Jose Cabrera, a TPS holder from El Salvador, have lived in the U.S. for decades. But the TPS designation for El Salvador ends in March. Cabrera, who took time off from his landscaping job to speak alongside the senators at the Capitol Wednesday, said, “I’m proud to be part of this community. But right now, there’s so much fear among immigrants like me, especially with the new administration coming in.”Let’s get to the heart of the matter: Breakups can be difficult. And splitting after decades together can be even more complicated. Now, add in having to do it all in the public eye and the situation doesn’t get any easier. Still, there have been longtime celebrity couples who’ve expressed their intent to put their best foot forward as they navigate this new chapter. Take Daddy Yankee and his wife Mireddys González , for instance—who recently announced their breakup after 29 years of marriage. "With a heart full of respect and honesty, I want to share some important news about my personal life," the “Gasolina” artist wrote in Spanish on his Instagram Stories Dec. 2. "After more than two decades of marriage and after many months of trying to save my marriage, which my wife and I share, today my lawyers responded to the divorce petition received from Mireddys." While Daddy Yankee called the split “Mireddys' decision,” he noted it’s one he respects. "I appreciate the time we shared, full of blessings and values, of love and with a beautiful family that will continue to be our priority,” the musician—who shares kids Jesaaelys and Jeremy with Mireddys and is also dad to daughter Yamiley from a prior relationship—added. “This is not an easy time, but I understand that it is part of my life process." Similarly, Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman , announced their divorce in September after 26 years of marriage and 33 together. “We are incredibly proud of the loving family we have created and our countless memories together,” the fashion designer and the venture capitalist—who share sons Skyler and Kaius —stated in a Sept. 9 Instagram post. “Our number one priority has been and will always be our children. We are committed to co-parent our boys and continue to work together within the many businesses we share.” And they aren’t the only long-term pairs to go their separate ways. Leah Remini noted in August that she and husband Angelo Pagán made their decision to divorce after 21 years of marriage with “a lot of thought and care” and a “positive outlook because we know it’s what’s best for us.” “We are proud of how we have worked through this together,” The King of Queens actress, who was with the Swordfish actor for a total of 28 years, tweeted on Aug. 29. “Yes, we’re sad, and we’ve got some figuring out to do as we continue to move forward into our new normal—together still in many ways, and apart in some new ones. But here’s the thing: we’ve been best friends for so many years. We are still celebrating holidays together, watching our favorite tv shows together, and gathering as a family.” So why did Leah and Angelo —whose family consists of daughter Sophia as well as his sons Angelo Jr ., Alex and Nico from a previous relationship—split if they’re on such good terms? “To put it simply, we both changed, as people do, and we got used to playing roles that didn’t fit us anymore,” the Kevin Can Wait alum continued. “After a lot of effort and consideration, we’ve decided to take this step, which reflects who we are today. Our bond is still strong—it’s just evolved into something different. We think a marriage that lasted this long and created so many beautiful memories, especially raising our incredible daughter, is something to celebrate. From our perspective, this marriage was a huge success.” And while some formerly wed couples are raising a glass to their years together, other are...well, keep reading to find out. The NFL star and the supermodel touched down in divorce court after 13 years of marriage, confirming Oct. 28, 2022, on their respective social media platforms that they had finalized the terms of their split. "We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together," Tom, who shares kids Benjamin and Vivian with Bündchen, wrote in his Instagram Story message. "We are blessed with beautiful and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way. We will continue to work together as parents to always ensure they receive the love and attention they deserve." The Super Bowl MVP—who is also dad to son Jack from his previous relationship with Bridget Moynahan —noted that he and Gisele didn't take their decision lightly. "Doing so is, of course, painful and difficult, like it is for many people who go through the same thing every day around the world," he continued. "However we wish only the best for each other as we pursue whatever new chapters in our lives that are yet to be written." Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus Parents to daughters Miley and Noah as well as son Braison (plus he adopted her daughter Brandi and son Trace and fathered son Christopher in a previous relationship) the couple tied the knot in 1993. The country singer filed for divorce in 2010, saying in a statement at the time that they were "trying to work through some personal matters." Mission accomplished, at least temporarily, because Billy Ray withdrew his petition in March 2011. However, he refiled in June 2013 , and she counter-filed. And yet, they stayed together again, Tish crediting couples therapy for bringing them closer. But they would later find themselves drifting apart. Though Tish filed for divorce a third time in April 2022, her petition stated that she and her husband of 29 years had actually been living apart since February 2020. "It is after 30 years, five amazing children and a lifetime of memories, we have decided to go our separate ways—not with sadness, but with love in our hearts," the exes told People in a joint statement. "We have grown up together, raised a family we can be so proud of, and it is now time to create our own paths." Later that year, Billy Ray got engaged to Firerose , whom he wed in October 2023. But after less than a year of marriage, the "Old Town Road" artist filed for divorce in June 2024. Following a contentious split, they settled their divorce two months later. Meanwhile, Tish accepted Prison Break star Dominic Purcell 's proposal in 2023 and married him that year. The parents of three and co-founders of the internationally renowned Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation revealed in May 2021 they were splitting up after 27 years of marriage . A Washington judge finalized their divorce just three months later, a ready-to-roll separation contract making the division of their estimated $130 billion fortune less onerous. Both recently divorced, Sean from Madonna and Robin from Dane Witherspoon , the actors fell in love making the 1990 crime drama State of Grace . They welcomed daughter Dylan in 1991 and son Hopper in 1993 and tied the knot in 1996. They purposely moved to Northern California to raise their kids away from "the bubble of celebrity," Robin would later explain to Vanity Fair , but tumult followed and, after a few false starts, they officially divorced in 2010 . "I believe we were together not only to have our beautiful children but to learn how to love...for the next time around, the right way," the House of Cards star said. "And then, what I'm looking for in people now is kindness." At the time she was back on with ex-fiancé Ben Foster , but after that ended she moved on with Clement Giraudet , marrying him in 2018. TMZ reported in September 2022 that Robin filed for divorce , citing July 31, 2022, as their date of separation. Sean famously dated Charlize Theron for a couple of years and then married Leila George in January 2020, but she filed for divorce in October 2021 . A power couple even before they were governor and first lady of California, the bodybuilder-turned-actor and renowned journalist announced in May 2011 that they had separated after 25 years of marriage . A week later, Arnold came clean about fathering a son with his family's former housekeeper of more than 20 years. Joseph Baena enjoys a relationship with his dad (as well as an affinity for the weight room) and is pursuing his own career as an actor. The Shriver-Schwarzenegger union, which produced daughters Katherine and Christina as well as sons Patrick and Christopher didn't officially end until December 2021, when The Terminator star and the author finalized their divorce . His-and-hers prison sentences for fraud were not kind to the Real Housewives of New Jersey stars' 20-year marriage. He ended up being deported to Italy after spending three years behind bars, and they divorced in September 2020 . "I can't get mad at her," Joe told E! News of his ex a month later . "She's the mother of my four daughters and she's taking care of them right now because obviously I can't. What am I going to do, have the kids move here to a country that they don't even know the language? That would be a disaster...Thank God they're tough kids, but it's still a damn shame. At the end of the day, you know, we're doing our best." Teresa is once again a married woman, wedding Luis Ruelas in August 2022 after they met during a chance encounter at the Jersey shore . The bride's four daughters— Gia , Gabriella , Milania and Audriana —were all in attendance. Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins Married for all intents and purposes, if not on paper, the Oscar winners separated in the summer of 2009 after 23 years together, having met making the rowdy 1988 baseball romance Bull Durham . They share sons Jack and Miles plus Tim helped raise Susan's daughter Eva Amurri . "People were coming up to me in the street and saying, 'I cried and cried when I heard,'" the Thelma & Louise star told The Telegraph in 2010 after her breakup with the director. "Well, I was sadder! I didn't think it would ever happen, either. You bring people into your life at certain times. Maybe you have a relationship to have children and you realize that it's fulfilled after that point." Tim ended up marrying actress Gratiela Brancusi in 2017, but it wasn't widely known they'd taken that step until he filed for divorce in January 2021. Though Robyn didn't file for divorce from the father of her seven children until April 2009, according to Reuters , their separation began just days after his explosive drunk-driving arrest in July 2006 . "Throughout our marriage and separation we have always strived to maintain the privacy and integrity of our family and will continue to do so," they said in a 2009 statement confirming the end of their union. At the time, Mel was already expecting a child , his eighth, with then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva . (He's since become a dad of nine, welcoming son Lars in 2017 with Rosalind Ross .) "It was an unfortunate incident," the Braveheart actor said on Variety 's Playback podcast in 2016, referring to his 2006 arrest and the resulting backlash over antisemitic comments he made to the officer that pulled him over. "I was loaded and angry and arrested. I was recorded illegally by an unscrupulous police officer who was never prosecuted for that crime...So, not fair. I guess as who I am, I'm not allowed to have a nervous breakdown, ever." The TLC star's third of four sister wives—and mother of six of his 18 children— left the family's Arizona home in November 2021 after 27 years together and moved to Utah. "I started thinking maybe this isn't working for me," Christine told People in August 2022. "And then I stopped believing in polygamy. I realized I didn't really want to live it anymore. I didn't like sharing a husband or feeling like I wasn't important." Kody legally married first wife Meri Brown in 1990, after which sister wives Janelle Brown and Christine joined him in spiritual matrimony in 1993 and 1994, respectively. He and Meri divorced and fourth wife Robyn Brown became his legally recognized spouse in 2014. "I want a guy who actually loves me and wants to be with me intimately," Christine, who wed David Woolley the following year, added. "I will be a monogamist from here on out." Janelle has also since left the fold , Kody revealing in the December 2022 reunion special that they were separated. Meri followed suit soon after, with her and Kody announcing in January 2023 they decided to "permanently terminate" their spiritual marriage. OK, so the couple that earn their first billion together don't necessarily stay together. News of the Amazon founder and sometimes-richest-man-in-the-world's divorce from his wife of 25 years came as a shock in January 2019—though mainly because Jeff was already involved with not-yet-divorced Good Day L.A. co-host Lauren Sanchez and the National Enquirer published their romantic text messages. (Jeff, who shares four children with MacKenzie, countered that they were long-separated so the tabloid didn't have much of a scoop.) MacKenzie, who married Seattle science teacher Dan Jewett in March 2021, received a reported $38.3 billion worth of Amazon stock in her divorce settlement, turning her into one of the world's richest people as well. She signed The Giving Pledge, a promise to give at least half of her fortune to charity, in 2019. Dan made the vow as well after their wedding, but MacKenzie filed for divorce on Sept. 26, 2022 , and it was finalized in early 2023. Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman Married for 30 years, the Matilda co-stars announced in 2012 that they were separating—but the parents of three never pulled the trigger on a divorce. "We're still separated, but we see each other often, and we're still a family," Perlman told People in August. "We can do things together, we can do things separately. I'm really, really glad that Danny and I were able to navigate some rough days to be able to have this different kind of relationship. I think it's pretty rare, but we agree on so many things that it makes sense." This story was originally published Sept. 14, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. PST.
Stock market today: Wall Street gets back to climbing, sending Nasdaq to a recordGlobal Changemakers Unite at Giving Economy Awards 2024, Announcing Geneva HQ, Unveils 10-City Global Initiative
Bitcoin: Empirical Evidence And Fundamentals Call For Higher Prices
Couple went to the same urgent care for the same illness. But their bills were very differentIn conclusion, the photo of Zhang Baizhi and Yang Zi together is not just a glimpse of two stunning actresses in a single frame, but a powerful symbol of the rich tapestry of beauty and charm that exists in the world. Through their unique styles and personalities, Zhang Baizhi and Yang Zi exemplify the beauty of diversity and the allure of individuality, inspiring others to embrace their own uniqueness and shine brightly in their own way.Good afternoon, Chicago. A body was found in a wheel well of a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Hawaii, authorities said. The body was found in the well of one of the main landing gears after flight 202 landed at Maui’s Kahului Airport on Christmas Eve, a spokesperson for United Airlines said. The wheel well was only accessible from outside the plane, and it wasn’t clear Wednesday how or when the person accessed the space, according to United. Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Daily horoscope | Asking Eric A Cook County Jail detainee attends Cardinal Blase J. Cupich’s Christmas Day Mass at the jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune) The Christmas morning Mass at the jail is an annual event for Cupich, who sought to use it to remind the men who were spending the holiday in jail that they were not forgotten. Read more here. More top news stories: Jeep crashes into Lake Villa-area house killing man, seriously injuring 2 others Tinley Park District makes progress on cleanup of former mental health hospital People walk past the New York Stock Exchange on Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan) The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Read more here. More top business stories: Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices Feeling lucky? Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion The Bears Drumline performs on the field in the fourth quarter against the Lions on Dec. 22, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) The Bears (4-11) will play the Seahawks (8-7) tonight at Soldier Field in a Week 17 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff. Read more here. More top sports stories: Column: Chicago Bulls players and coaches refuse to tank as the front office nears a turning point Loyola men’s basketball loses 71-68 to Murray State for last place at the Diamond Head Classic Nicole Scherzinger in “Sunset Blvd.” on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York. (Marc Brenner) This last year was busy on Broadway, with new musicals and several impressive plays featuring ensemble casts. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: North Shore native tells how she compiled family’s mental health struggles in ‘While You Were Out’ ‘Baby Driver’ actor Hudson Meek, 16, dies in a fall from a moving vehicle Finnish National Police Commissioner Ilkka Koskim’ki attends a news conference in Helsinki on Dec. 26, 2024, investigating the electricity transmission between Finland and Estonia through the Estlink 2 connection, which was cut on Christmas Day, according to Finnish grid operator Fingrid. (Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via AP) Finnish authorities have detained a Russia-linked ship as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables, according to police and news media reports, in the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Read more here. More top stories from around the world: Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they’re tuning out. Israeli strike kills 5 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, officials say
Defending champ South Dakota State dominates Montana 35-18 in FCS 2nd roundMark Vancil has been called “Michael Jordan’s Boswell.” For more than 30 years that has been the case and it all began when Vancil, a native of far west suburban and charming Sycamore, was a young sportswriter covering the Bulls and their rookie named Jordan for the Chicago Sun-Times. Vancil had come to the paper after getting a journalism degree at Northern Illinois University and working at such newspapers as Florida’s Clearwater Sun and St. Petersburg Times, DeKalb’s Chronicle and the Aurora Beacon-News. “When I came to the Sun-Times in 1984, the Bulls weren’t good, so they took a chance on this young guy,” he told me last week, “I think Michael and I became friends, in part, because I never asked him for anything.” Vancil would soon leave the Sun-Times to cover the NBA for the short-lived sports daily The National. But he never lost touch with Jordan. “I had been thinking about writing books since I was young and finally in Jordan I came upon the perfect subject,” he told me. “I pitched the idea in the late ‘80s and nothing happened. Then in 1992, I was ready.” He was in Southern California, where Michael was practicing with the so-called U.S. “Dream Team” for the Olympics. “We were a stairwell, and he tells me he is going to quit and play baseball,” Vancil says. “I realized that the next season could be his last in the NBA, the timing was perfect for a book.” Vancil explained his idea, telling Jordan, “I can guarantee you a million dollars.” Jordan smiled and said, “You’ve got a million dollars?” “Not yet,” said Vancil. They made a deal, orchestrated an innovative publishing venture and in 1993 the world had “Rare Air: Michael on Michael,” with dozens of striking photos by acclaimed Walter Iooss Jr. and words from Jordan. “This was Michael’s book, his words. I interviewed him all over (on tape) and put it together,” Vancil says. The book was a sensation. It is estimated to have sold more than 2.5 million copies. (You can now find autographed copies online for, oh my, many thousands of dollars.) This success spawned a publishing company called Rare Air Media. Vancil also wrote books about Ken Griffey Jr., Mario Andretti, Dan Marino and musician Johnny Cash. His latest, just published, is unlike the rest but certainly benefits from Vancil’s experiences and opinions. It is a thought-provoking marvel titled “The Last Excellent Man: The Meaning of Our Jordan Year,” which is a bit about Jordan but also a lot else. In it, there is Vancil’s near dust-up with Oprah, the quiet visits Jordan would make to local children’s hospitals, “acts of kindness personal and executed quietly”; and thoughts on politics, technology, sports gambling. Though Vancil, in his self-effacing manner, writes “readers (will) notice that parts of my life string through these pages ... the attention to my own life in these pages is uncomfortable.” Sorry he feels that way but having him pepper the book is what gives it its special kick, its authoritativeness, its philosophical potency as in “The connection between people and their inner lives is largely misunderstood, if acknowledged at all. Yet, it appears to be the source of Jordan’s on-court theatrics, (Taylor) Swift’s three-and-a-half-hour performances, and the soulful countenance with which both travel.” There is no specific “man” referred to in the title, and many men and women are discussed, including Caitlin Clark, Muhammad Ali and Steve Jobs. One of the most moving portions deals with the murder of James Jordan, Michael’s father, whose body was discovered on Aug. 13, 1993, by a fisherman in a South Carolina swamp. I learned things, such as that race car driver Mario Andretti “could pick out his wife in the infield while maneuvering a Ferrari around the track’s 17 turns, sometimes at 180 miles an hour.” I was especially grabbed when Vancil addresses “America’s peculiar desire to attack what it previously cheered.” He writes of the theories surrounding Jordan’s first “retirement,” and how any involved would have had to craft “one of the greatest conspiracies in the history of conspiracies, and then maintained a Black Ops level silence for more than 30 years.” I had not seen Vancil in some time before we sat down last week and our conversation was filled with memories of the newspaper business and the names of mutual friends, such as his high school friend and former Sun-Times and New York Times writer Dirk Johnson. Another of those ink-stained pals, Ron Rapoport, told me, “I remember when Mark was one of us at the Sun-Times, scuffling to get athletes’ quotes and trying to make deadlines, and then all of a sudden he became this journalistic colossus explaining the phenomenon of Michael Jordan to the world. Did James Boswell know as much about Samuel Johnson as Mark does about Jordan? I wonder.” I was happy to hear that Vancil and his wife Laura, who runs a granola company, have been married for more than three decades and have four grown children, often dropping into the family home in the suburbs. And, born storyteller that he is, he told me, “Laura and I went on our first date in mid-January 1993. After dinner, she suggested extending the night at the Old Town Ale House. I was hooked. So, for symmetry, a while later we stopped into the Ale House on our way to a family event, put Patsy Cline on the jukebox, got down on a knee at the bar, and that was that. We were married on Sept. 4.” He still talks to Jordan. They are friends. “Yes,” Vancil says. “Of course our lives have diverged.” He smiles and then says, “For one thing, Michael’s a multi-billionaire and I’m not.” And that’s OK. Money isn’t everything. rkogan@chicagotribune.comTrump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’
South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial lawWASHINGTON — Democratic senators are urging President Joe Biden to extend temporary protections for migrants in the U.S. before he leaves office, warning that millions of people could be forced to return to unsafe countries once President-elect Donald Trump retakes the White House. The senators have been quietly urging the White House to take executive actions that would attempt to extend legal protections for migrants into Trump’s administration, and the White House has been discussing what steps to take. But any actions from the outgoing president would happen in the wake of an election that Trump won on promises of hardline immigration enforcement. The Democratic Party is also debating internally how it should approach immigration and border security after its election losses. The Biden administration earlier this week made permanent a rule that extends work authorizations for asylum seekers, but has not made commitments on other priorities for immigration advocates and Democrats. With just weeks remaining before Biden leaves office, several Democratic senators took their pleas public Wednesday. “The urgency of the next 40 days will remain,” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said at a news conference. “So we’re going to keep pressing.” The senators from the Congressional Hispanic Conference urged the White House to re-designate or renew Temporary Protected Status for migrants from Nicaragua, Ecuador and El Salvador, as well as issue an order to expedite renewals for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Over 1 million migrants in the U.S. rely on TPS, which allows people already in the country to stay and work legally if their homelands are deemed unsafe. Trump has suggested he would scale back the program as he looks to implement the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. “We know the incoming administration is going to try to implement chaotic immigration policies that tear our families apart,” said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., adding, “But we have a chance to do something about that right now and give these families as much legal protection and reassurance as possible.” While Trump could attempt to undo some of the actions, they would set up a legal impediment and give migrants stronger legal standing to challenge Trump’s orders. In 2017, the Trump administration announced the end of TPS for Nicaraguans, saying that it was no longer needed. But TPS holders challenged the legality of that decision in a lawsuit in court. Since then, the duration of TPS for Nicaragua depends on a court order from a federal judge. The White House is considering taking action to extend temporary protections for some nations, but nothing has yet been decided, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations. Redesignating protected status for some nations would involve a more serious undertaking because it would grant people the right to stay in the U.S. from the date it was designated and a determination on the safety and security of the nation must be done. The renewal procedure only involves those already in the U.S. who would be allowed to stay longer. In the last months, advocates have ramped up pressure on the Biden administration re-designate Nicaraguan migrants for TPS, which would protect thousands of people from deportation. Hundreds of religious, immigration and human rights organizations argue that the combination of political and environmental circumstances make it unsafe for Nicaraguans to return to their country. “We don’t know how politics can change with Trump and TPS gives us peace of mind,” said Grethel Gomez, a 60-year-old Nicaraguan activist and asylum petitioner who could benefit from TPS. “There is horror of deportation, and this would give us security.” Gomez’s son was a human rights activist in Nicaragua and was detained for 45 days. She took to the streets to protest and ask for his release and was also persecuted, she said. Gomez left Nicaragua clandestinely and arrived in the United States with a tourist visa in 2021. Less than a year later she requested asylum, but she has not yet had any interviews and fears that her process will be hindered during the Trump administration. TPS could also benefit those Nicaraguans who came under a separate Biden program called humanitarian parole and have temporary legal status that expires after two years. Trump has said that he will end the parole program. Other immigrants, such as Jose Cabrera, a TPS holder from El Salvador, have lived in the U.S. for decades. But the TPS designation for El Salvador ends in March. Cabrera, who took time off from his landscaping job to speak alongside the senators at the Capitol Wednesday, said, “I’m proud to be part of this community. But right now, there’s so much fear among immigrants like me, especially with the new administration coming in.”