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 will be allowed to remain legally for another 18 months. This decision, made in one of the final acts on immigration policy by the Biden administration, is in support of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which has been significantly expanded to cover approximately 1 million individuals. The fate of TPS remains uncertain under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, who sought to limit its utilization during his initial term in office.
Established by Congress in 1990, TPS was designed to prevent deportations to nations facing natural disasters or civil unrest, granting individuals the authorization to work in increments of up to 18 months at a time. Currently, about 1 million immigrants from 17 different countries benefit from TPS, including individuals from Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Lebanon. Salvadorans stand as one of the largest groups protected under TPS, having been granted this status in 2001 following devastating earthquakes in their homeland.
Trump, along with his running mate JD Vance, expressed intentions to reduce the use of TPS and related policies that offer temporary status, aligning with their pursuit of widespread deportations. During his initial term, Trump terminated TPS for El Salvador, though legal challenges impeded his efforts. The financial support provided by Salvadorans to their homeland plays a significant role in the country’s economy, potentially complicating any attempts to end TPS for a key U.S. ally.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, known for his strong security measures that have targeted street gangs, was praised by Trump for his efforts to curb illegal immigration. Bukele’s popularity has surged, and in response to a surge in gang-related violence in March 2022, El Salvador’s congress granted him expanded powers to address the crisis, including suspending certain constitutional rights and empowering law enforcement to make arrests without due process.
By the end of 2024, El Salvador recorded a historic low of 114 homicides, a stark contrast to the 6,656 homicides reported in 2015, positioning the country as one of the most dangerous globally. For individuals like José Palma, a 48-year-old Salvadoran residing in the U.S. since 1998, the extension of TPS signifies the ability to continue working legally in Houston. While Palma benefits from this temporary status, his wife holds permanent residency, and their four children are U.S. citizens. Without the extension of TPS, Palma faces the risk of deportation and separation from his family.
“It brings me peace of mind, a breath of fresh air. That’s 18 more months of being protected,” Palma expressed. “It offers me stability.” Working as an organizer at a day laborer organization, Palma sends around $400 monthly to his retired 73-year-old mother
