Trump Administration Ends TPS for El Salvador

Today, January 8th, the Trump Administration terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans living in the United States. This decision affects 195,000 people across the country, including approximately 16,200 Salvadoran individuals living in New York state. The Administration has granted individuals an 18-month grace period, with the program officially ending on September 9th, 2019.

Temporary Protected Status is a designation afforded to nationals of countries experiencing humanitarian crisis such as violent conflict, environmental disasters, or epidemics that would prevent nationals from returning safely. As of today, there are an estimated 325,000 TPS recipients living in the United States, representing ten TPS-designated countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. In November 2017, the Trump Administration ended TPS for both Nicaragua and Haiti. Over 30,000 TPS recipients reside in New York, including 16,200 Salvadorans, 4,600 Hondurans, and 5,200 Haitians.

“The Trump administration's decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status for the 195,000 Salvadoran people living in the United States, including 16,200 New Yorkers, is disgraceful. Uprooting the lives of our neighbors, friends, and families is unjust and inhumane. Terminating TPS will have a significant negative impact on the social fabric and economic growth of our local communities. As we did for Haitians and Nicaraguans, we will work with our legal partners to make sure that Salvadoran New Yorkers do not lose their ability to work before September 9th, 2019. We urge our communities not to panic and to consult with a lawyer at their earliest ability,” said Steven Choi, Executive Director the the New York Immigration Coalition.

"Central America continues to be one of the most violent regions on earth and any suggestion that country conditions have meaningfully improved are without basis. It is further contradicted by the Trump Administration's own repeated warnings about violent gangs operating in El Salvador", said Anne Pilsbury, Executive Director of Central American Legal Assistance. "The U.S. bears a great deal of responsibility for the high level of violence in El Salvador, having funded their 11 year long war; it is unconscionable to turn our backs on the victims of violence, especially when they have been hardworking, law-abiding neighbors, and integral members of our communities now for almost 18 years,” said Anne Pilsbury, Executive Director of Central American Legal Assistance.

"CARECEN is working with more than 500 Salvadorans protected by TPS. They have lived in the U.S., on average, for over two decades. Many are homeowners and the parents of American-born children. As the fifth largest Salvadoran community in the United States, Long Island will be devastated by the loss of workers when TPS ends. Middle class homes will be foreclosed on and U.S. citizen children of those with TPS will become dependent on the government as parents with TPS lose their ability to work here. Salvadorans will eventually be deported back to one of the most dangerous countries in the world. It is a cruel New Year for Long Islanders with TPS,” said Pat Young, Central American Refugee Center CARECEN in Hempstead and Brentwood.

Background and legal information

Current work permits will continue to be valid until permit’s stated expiration date. DHS will be publishing more information soon about how Salvadorans and Hondurans can re-apply for TPS and work permission one last time to be able to work until September 9th, 2019 and we will circulate that information as soon as we have it. Lawyers and community organizations are discussing the best ways to get services to help these communities do so and be screened to see if they qualify for anything else. We urge everyone to see a lawyer or reach out to a trusted source of information on where to get services if unsure. Individuals can call the New York State New American hotline at 1-800-566-7636 if they need a referral or to report fraud.

The New York Immigration Coalition is encouraging supporters of TPS to call their congressional representatives at 202-224-3121 to demand a permanent legislative solution.