MIAMI (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security announced on Friday that over 200,000 Salvadorans, who have resided in the United States for more than two decades, have been granted an 18-month extension to legally remain in the country. This decision, made in the waning days of the Biden administration, signifies the latest show of support for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which has been significantly broadened to encompass roughly 1 million individuals. The future of TPS had been uncertain under former President Donald Trump, who sought to restrict its utilization during his tenure.
Established by Congress in 1990, TPS was designed to prevent deportations to nations enduring natural disasters or political unrest, allowing individuals to work legally in the U.S. for periods of up to 18 months at a time. Currently, around 1 million immigrants from 17 different countries benefit from TPS, including nationals from Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Lebanon. Among the largest groups protected are Salvadorans, who were granted TPS in 2001 following severe earthquakes in their home country.
During his presidency, Trump, along with his running mate JD Vance, indicated intentions to reduce the use of TPS and similar temporary status policies in pursuit of mass deportations. Trump did terminate TPS for El Salvador during his first term, though legal challenges impeded this action. Notably, remittances sent by Salvadorans back to their homeland play a crucial role in supporting the country’s economy, presenting potential obstacles to ending TPS for a key U.S. ally. Trump maintained close ties with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who collaborated with him on curbing illegal immigration to the U.S., resulting in approximately $7.5 billion in remittances annually.
Bukele, widely popular due to his stringent security measures that have diminished street gang activity in El Salvador, was granted expanded powers in March 2022 following a surge in gang-related violence that saw 62 individuals killed in a matter of hours. This prompted the country’s congress to authorize a “state of exception” empowering Bukele to implement stricter measures, suspending certain constitutional rights and bolstering police authority. Since then, over 83,000 individuals have been detained, many without due process, leading to a record-low 114 homicides in El Salvador by the end of 2024, a stark contrast to the 6,656 homicides recorded in 2015, cementing the nation’s reputation as one of the most dangerous in the world.
José Palma, a 48-year-old Salvadoran residing in the U.S. since 1998, expressed relief at the extension of TPS, allowing him to continue working legally in Houston. As the sole TPS recipient in his family, with his four children born as U.S. citizens and his wife a permanent resident, the prospect of deportation and family separation loomed prior to the extension
