TPS Designation to End for El Salvador (as well)
The Trump Administration announced today, Monday, January 8, 2018, that the TPS designation will end for El Salvador despite the President of El Salvador's request that the country continue to receive the designation. This decision will affect approximately 200,000 people who will be lose their TPS on September 9, 2019. El Salvador originally received TPS designation in March 2001 after being hit by two devastating earthquakes. Per the announcement on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's website, it is apparent that the Trump Administration decided whether the country merited the TPS designation solely based on the original reason the country received the designation (i.e., the effects of the 2001 earthquakes). As expected, the Trump Administration concluded that El Salvador no longer merited the TPS designation. Unfortunately, the Attorney General's decision to end a TPS designation is not subject to judicial review (per INA 244(b)(5)(A)). Unless those El Salvadorians with TPS are eligible for another status to remain in the U.S. after losing TPS or Congress passes relevant legislation permitting a more permanent solution, those El Salvadorians would be expected to depart the U.S. on September 9, 2019.
If you are affected by this decision, you may want to contact an immigration attorney as soon as possible to see any options that you may have to remain in the U.S. upon losing TPS.
***Please keep in mind that this blog posting is for educational purposes only (i.e., to give you general information and a general understanding of this immigration related matter); this blog posting does not provide specific legal advice and does not form an attorney-client relationship.***
Sources:
(1) https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/salvadorans-tps-end.html
(2) https://www.dhs.gov/news/2018/01/08/secretary-homeland-security-kirstjen-m-nielsen-announcement-temporary-protected
(3) https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-el-salvador