U.S. Department of Homeland Security Ends Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador

On January 8, 2018, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen M. Nielsen, announced the termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for beneficiaries from El Salvador. According to Secretary Nielsen, the termination is based on a review of disaster-related conditions in El Salvador, concluding that the conditions caused by the 2001 earthquakes in the country no longer exist.

The effective date of the termination of TPS for El Salvador will be delayed 18 months, ultimately ending the designation on September 9, 2019. The Secretary of Homeland Security indicated that the 18-month delay is meant to provide TPS beneficiaries with adequate time to arrange their departure, or to seek an alternative lawful immigration status in the United Status.

Salvadoran beneficiaries will need to re-register for TPS and apply for Employment Authorization Documents in order to legally work in the United States until the termination of El Salvador’s TPS designation on September 9, 2019.

The Department of Homeland Security announcement notes that only Congress has the ability to legislate a permanent solution for the lack of a permanent lawful immigration status of current TPS beneficiaries, and states that the 18-month delayed termination will allow time for Congress to create a potential legislative solution.

For more information about the termination of TPS for El Salvador, see the full announcement from the Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2018/01/08/secretary-homeland-security-kirstjen-m-nielsen-announcement-temporary-protected.

If you need legal advice in determining your immigration options, please contact Murphy Desmond at (608) 270-5550 to schedule an immigration consultation with Attorney Glorily A. López or Attorney Maryam Ghayyad.