Immigrants Worried Trump May End “Temporary Protected Status” Program

Immigrants from Haiti and Central America are worried that the Trump Administration will end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program that has allowed them to live and work in the United States. Many of these immigrants have resided in the U.S. for 20 years.

The TPS program is a humanitarian initiative that helps people whose countries have been affected by war or natural disasters. The program was offered to Nicaraguans and Hondurans in 1998 after Hurricane Mitch. In 2001, it was offered to Salvadorans after a major earthquake, and in 2010, Haitians became eligible for Temporary Protected Status after another deadly earthquake that killed more than 200,000 and decimated the country’s infrastructure.

About 300,000 immigrants from Central America and Haiti are currently residing in the United States under the TPS program. The Trump Administration has already ended the program for Sudan, and Haiti was issued only a short renewal. Given these facts and the unprecedented crackdowns on both legal and illegal immigration since Trump’s inauguration, Central Americans are concerned that they will no longer be offered protected status when the Trump Administration determines whether or not to renew the program, a decision that may come as soon as early November for Nicaraguans and Hondurans.

If you are living in the United States under the TPS program, contact my office to discuss your immigration goals. I am a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and I stay up to date on all changes to U.S. immigration laws. Call 973-453-2009 today to schedule a free consultation with a New Jersey green card lawyer from the Law Office of Eric M. Mark.

Temporary Protected Status Program Has Taken a Back Seat to DACA in Political Lobbying

Although unions and immigration advocacy groups are trying to pressure legislators to lobby the administration to keep the TPS program, these efforts have been scant compared to those aimed at renewing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Tribune speculates that this disparity may be due to the fact that many DACA recipients were raised in America, have a college education, and are Internet-savvy while immigrants in the TPS program are predominantly working class.

Besides the obvious humanitarian argument for renewing the TPS program, advocates point to the exorbitant cost of deporting so many people. Ultimately, though, the White House gets to decide which countries are allowed to participate in the TPS program and for how long.

If you are living and working in the U.S. under the TPS program, contact my office to discuss your immigration goals. Depending on the facts of your case, you may have several options for becoming a lawful permanent resident. Call 973-453-2009 to speak with an experienced immigration attorney in New Jersey.

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