28 OCT 2022

Biden Administration Must Extend Protections for TPS Holders from Nepal, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua 

WASHINGTON, DC – The Los Angeles Times reported this week that settlement talks between the Biden administration and plaintiffs in Ramos v. Mayorkas collapsed, leaving more than 250,000 TPS beneficiaries from Nepal, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua at risk of deportation. TPS families sued the Trump administration in 2018 after it revoked protections for individuals from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Nepal, and Honduras. Since, the Biden administration has redesignated status for Haiti and Sudan, but the future of TPS holders from Nepal, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua hangs in the balance. Kerri Talbot, Deputy Director at the Immigration Hub, issued the following statement: 

“We are profoundly disappointed by the news that settlement talks between the Biden administration and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) families in the Ramos case have come to an end. The Trump administration's racially-motivated decision to terminate TPS for the more than 250,000 TPS beneficiaries from Nepal, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua inflicted irreparable damages and great injustice to these nationals. They deserve better.

“These countries have suffered severe humanitarian crises. The pandemic exacerbated conditions in the Northern Triangle after the area was hit by natural disasters of 2020. These long-time communities in the U.S. stood by us in a time of need, forming part of our essential workforce. Deportation of these long-time community members would damage our economy and fail to recognize their contributions to our nation’s well-being.

“With Temporary Protected Status set to expire at the end of this year, the Biden administration must immediately redesignate protections for Nepal, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua and expand TPS to protect millions of other migrants and refugees who need it. TPS holders from these countries need more than temporary relief.

“TPS holders should not live in fear of whether they will be able to continue to work and live safely in this country. It is imperative that the Biden administration extend and designate TPS for these nationals who call America home. Only the administration has the authority to protect this population.” 

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.