The Trump administration announced this morning that they are ending the humanitarian program known as Temporary Protected Status, TPS, for people from El Salvador. TPS provides temporary status for certain people in the US to live and work legally if their home country is affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, or other significant issues. Salvadorans have benefitted from TPS since devastating earthquakes hit their country in 2001 and became the largest group benefitting from temporary protected status in the US. Nearly 200,000 Salvadorans will be affected by this decision.
Those from El Salvador who currently have TPS have until September 2019 to get their affairs in order and either find a way to stay in the US legally or depart the country. After September 2019, they will no longer have permission to stay and work legally in the US and will risk deportation. While El Salvador has been able to rebuild since the 2001 earthquakes, violence continues to be rampant and the economy is the slowest growing in Central America, leading to additional instability in the country.
Due in part to the length of El Salvador TPS, these Salvadorans are firmly entrenched in our country. They are parents to about 190,000 US citizen children and about one-third are homeowners.
The Trump administration has previously canceled TPS for about 60,000 Haitians and 2,500 Nicaraguans.
If you are from El Salvador, Haiti, or Nicaragua and currently have TPS, Walther Goss Law will provide a free immigration consultation to see if you are able to stay in the US. Please contact us today to make an appointment.