Originally published June 14, 2023 4:00 pm PDT
Continuing with its open stance on immigration, the Biden administration has decided to prolong the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 300,000 immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua.
This extension counters the Trump administration’s 2018 move to end the TPS for these nations, which was set to become effective in January 2020.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported on Tuesday that the TPS designations for these four countries will be extended for an additional 18 months.
Current beneficiaries will be given an opportunity to retain their status by re-registering during the extension period.
The DHS asserted that this decision was made relevant to the litigation that had contested the prior terminations.
They emphasized their commitment to monitor the conditions in these countries closer to evaluate the continued appropriateness of the TPS designations.
Alejandro Mayorkas, the DHS Secretary, said in a statement, “Through the extension of Temporary Protected Status, we are able to offer continued safety and protection to current beneficiaries who are nationals of El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua who are already present in the United States and cannot return because of the impacts of environmental disasters.”
Specific guidelines detailing eligibility criteria, timelines, and re-registration procedures for current beneficiaries will be published in the Federal Register soon, according to the DHS.
El Salvadoran beneficiaries, approximately 239,000 individuals, will see an extension from September 10, 2023, through March 9, 2025.
For Honduran beneficiaries, approximately 76,000 individuals, the extension will last from January 6, 2024, through July 5, 2025.
Nepalese beneficiaries, totaling around 14,500 immigrants, can expect an extension from December 25, 2023, through June 24, 2025.
For Nicaraguan beneficiaries, an estimated 4,000 immigrants, the extension begins on January 6, 2024, and will end on July 5, 2025.
