Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it was canceling the residency permits of approximately two hundred thousand people from El Salvador who have been living and working in the United States legally since a series of earthquakes devastated their country in 2001. This announcement came on the heel of similar announcements in October and November of last year that the residency permits of people from Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan were also being terminated. These recent TPS termination decisions leave hundreds of thousands of individuals who have been living legally in the United States under an immigration status known as Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, with many, complex legal decisions. Under TPS, individuals from designated countries are able to remain in the U.S, work legally and be protected from deportation after something catastrophic, like war or a natural disaster, occurs in their country during the time they are in the U.S that prevents their safe return.
Below is a summary of recent TPS termination decisions. Once TPS termination takes effect, the lawful status and work authorization of individuals from Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador will end. Current beneficiaries of TPS who want to maintain their status through the current expiration date must re-register. Re-registration, however, is limited to persons previously registered for and granted TPS.
Country Termination Date Re-registration Period
Sudan November 2, 2018 No longer open
Nicaragua January 5, 2019 until Feb. 13, 2018
Haiti July 22, 2019 Not yet published
El Salvador Sept 9, 2019 Not yet published
Because current enforcement priorities have been defined quite broadly, individuals who have lost TPS status may be subject to immigration enforcement, including being arrested and placed into removal proceedings, since they will be in unlawful status at the time of termination. However, there may be other options available to TPS holders from these four countries. For example, if a TPS holder has a Lawful Permanent Resident or US citizen relative who can petition for them, they may be able to pursue permanent residency status. In some situations, an individual’s TPS status may actually make it easier for them to apply for residency.
If you are confused or overwhelmed about your immigration situation or if you are looking for an affordable way to find help, let the Immigration Counselors at InStepp Inc. help you and your family. Our Department of Justice accredited representatives can help with TPS renewal and help determine if you are eligible for permanent relief through family-based immigration or advance parole. Call the InStepp office at 919.680.8000 for more information or contact us via our online form. Appointments are scheduled Monday – Wednesday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.