TPS Holders: Time to Review Your Status and Future

The Catholic News Service (“CNS”) reported a new study that assessed the economic impact of the administration’s plans related to removing individuals in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

TPS is a program that began nearly three decades ago to provide a reprieve from deportation to individuals from several federally designated countries that are recovering from a conflict or natural disaster.  Today, TPS – designated countries include El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.  There are strict requirements for entry into the TPS program.  Further, it does not provide a path to permanent residence and requires periodic reauthorizations for each country by ICE.

ICE has indicated its intent to slowly end the TPS program.  Today, 325,000 individuals in the United States are protected from deportation under the TPS program, but now face removal from the United States.

According to the CNS, the 325,000 individuals have 273,000 U.S.-born children, “have jobs, many have mortgages, pay taxes and work in industries crucial to the economy, such as construction, child care and health care.”  The report states that the termination of TPS status would mean “crucial industries would see a shortage of workers, banks would see defaults in mortgages, and government coffers would lose out on tax revenues, and consumer spending.”

More important, however, that those with current TPS designations nearing expiration seek immigration counsel to assess their status and potential forms of relief.

If you have questions about this post, your rights, or any other immigration law issues, please contact me at rglahoud@nmmlaw.com.