DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status for Syrians

Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (the “Secretary”) announced on Thursday, February 1, DHS will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Syria for an additional 18 months, until October 1, 2019.

TPS allows individuals from certain countries to lawfully remain in the United States when conditions in the designated country prevent citizens and nationals from safely returning or when the country is unable to securely facilitate and handle their return.  Country conditions that lead to TPS designation include an ongoing armed conflict or an environmental disaster.

According to DHS, the

decision to extend TPS for Syria was made after a review of the conditions upon which the country’s designation is based, which was ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions, as well as an assessment of whether those conditions continue to exist as required by statute. Following careful consideration of available information, including recommendations received as part of an inter-agency consultation process, the Secretary determined that the conditions supporting Syria’s designation for TPS continue to exist.

DHS will review the country conditions in Syria as October 1, 2019, approaches, to determine whether a further extension of TPS is necessary.

Syria was first designated a TPS country on March 29, 2012, following the escalation of the country’s civil war.  Since then, DHS has renewed Syria’s TPS designation every 18 months, following reviews of the specific country conditions.

Any Syrian nationals who are currently TPS beneficiaries with expiration dates prior to the current termination date of March 31, 2018, are required to file TPS extension documents.  

Do not wait until the last day – act now!  To learn more about this post or any other immigration matter, feel free to contact me, Raymond G. Lahoud, at rglahoud@nmmlaw.com.