The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced new TPS news: Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will receive an extension until June 30, 2024, benefiting four new countries. Thus, TPS is extended for Salvadorans, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal. Additionally, both Haiti and Sudan will also maintain the program’s validity, which was implemented in 2011 for the former and in 2013 for the latter.
This new TPS is the result of hundreds of protests across the country and the threat of a massive hunger strike in Washington DC, which was planned by thousands of Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries. There is certainly something to celebrate this week in the migrant community. From the Jaskot Law office, we will provide you with the details of this government discussion, the new implementations, and more. Stay with us!
What is Temporary Protected Status?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a status granted by the U.S. government to people from certain countries who, due to conditions related to politics, economics, natural disasters, etc., are unable to return there safely. Thus, those who access TPS will not be removed from the country or detained by DHS. In addition, they are granted a work and travel permit.
It is always important to note that despite all these benefits of Temporary Protected Status, it does not ensure a path to permanent residency or U.S. citizenship.
What is happening now with the TPS?
Every 18 months this program comes to an end, but is usually renewed to protect migrants from the complicated situations in their countries of origin. On multiple occasions, the previous administration led by Donald Trump has tried to eliminate TPS as part of its policies linked to Zero Tolerance. Although it was a difficult fight, the former president managed to put an end to the measure.
This resulted in the end of 2021, with approximately 241,699 immigrant requests for TPS (Temporary Protected Status) for El Salvador, 76,737 for Honduras, 14,556 for Nepal, and 4,250 for Nicaragua. In other words, more than 350,000 individuals from these countries were at risk of losing their Temporary Protected Status.
These fears and injustices are what fueled multiple protests and the imminent hunger strike in Washington DC, which fortunately came to a halt due to the government’s announcement of good news.
New TPS: What does the extension of the program imply?
If this new extension of TPS had not been granted, the individuals benefiting from it would have been deported back to their countries. It grants peace of mind for another 18 months to these 350,000 migrants.
“For the moment, it’s a relief, because we were in uncertainty with nothing, and this is just a respite, but these 18 months pass quickly,” said a TPS activist to the press. “We don’t have to stay with those 18 months but we have to stay in the fight.”
Indeed, this is a victory for the immigrant community. However, there is still much to be done, with several unfulfilled promises from the Biden Administration and many rights yet to be achieved. But in the meantime, we can celebrate this small step.
At Jaskot Law we are a law firm specializing in complex immigration cases. If you do not want to return to your home country, or are facing deportation, call us at +1 (410) 235-6868.
