If you or someone in your family lives in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), significant and rapid changes are coming that you must know about so you are not caught by surprise.
What is happening with Haiti and Syria? This Monday is a critical date. After a long battle in the courts, the government has received the green light to terminate permits for more than 350,000 people from Haiti and Syria. This means that, starting next week, these individuals could be arrested if they do not have another type of legal permission to stay.
What is happening with Honduras and El Salvador?
- Hondurans: The news is not good. A court recently decided that the protection is no longer valid, so thousands of people from Honduras are already at risk of deportation right now.
- Salvadorans: Their permit has an expiration date that is very near: September 9. Unless there is a last-minute change, protections will end on that day.
The difficult message regarding citizen children
Many parents with TPS have children who were born here and are U.S. citizens. The government has said that if a parent is detained for deportation, they will have two options:
- Take their children with them to their country of origin.
- Leave the children in the United States with a “safe” person chosen by the parent.
Is there any hope in Congress?
Although an attempt was made to pass a law to extend TPS for a few more years, this week Republican senators blocked the proposal. This means that, for now, there is no solution coming from Congress.
What do experts recommend?
Pastors and aid groups in cities like San Diego and New Bedford are asking families to remain calm but to prepare. It is important to have a plan, know who you would leave the care of your children to in an emergency, and consult with a lawyer if you have any other way to adjust your papers before the deadlines expire.
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