President Urged to Expand Temporary Protected Status for Central Americans

A diverse coalition including members of Congress, over 100 law professors and nearly 400 civil, faith, immigrant, labor rights, and legal services organizations are urging President Obama to designate El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras for temporary protected status (TPS) due to increasing violence in those countries. Congress members’ urgings have recently been joined by over 100 law professors and nearly 400 civil, faith, immigrant, labor rights, and legal services organizations.

TPS may be designated for foreign nationals present in the United States on a certain date, who meet other requirements, when conditions in a foreign country temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely. For example, TPS may be designated when there is ongoing armed conflict, or a natural catastrophe like an earthquake or tsunami. El Salvador’s murder rate has increased by seventy percent over the past two years. With TPS status, Salvadorans fleeing violence would be protected from deportation for a period of time instead of being forced to return to a country in turmoil.

A person granted TPS receives temporary protection within the U.S., and may receive employment authorization while the safety of their country is compromised.

Source: http://immigrationimpact.com/2016/09/09/temporary-protected-status-central-america/

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