by Natasha B. | Nov 12, 2018 | Family Resources, Immigration, Legal Services, Press Releases and Statements, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
November 12, 2018
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Peze la pou tradui nan Kreyol Ayisyen
Recent Updates to Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
On October 3, 2018 a court temporarily stopped the U.S. Government from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for four countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan. This ruling means that, for now, people with TPS from those four countries can lawfully remain in the United Status. This is only a temporary decision, it is not permanent, which means, it can change at any time. The ruling does not impact the termination of TPS for Guinea, Liberia, Honduras, Nepal or Sierra Leone.
What this announcement means for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Recipients:
As of January 2018, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) had been terminated for 7 countries: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador. The injunction from the California court stops the government from deporting protected immigrants from the countries of Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador while the case continues.
The Judge prohibited the government from terminating TPS for these four countries pending the outcome of the litigation.
This decision does not allow people from these countries who had not previously applied for TPS to apply for TPS now.
On October 31, 2018 The Department of Homeland Security publicly stated that Nicaraguan and Sudanese TPS holders who re-registered during the last re-registration period for their country received an automatic extension of TPS until April 2, 2019.
Nicaraguan and Sudanese TPS holders whose cases have already been approved and who have Employment Authorization Documents (“work permits”) set to expire will receive automatic extensions of their work authorization through April 2, 2019.
Automatic extension of work authorization documents apply to TPS holders whose cases have already been approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as well as TPS holders with pending applications.
More information about TPS for Haiti and El Salvador will be provided if the court case continues past the termination dates for Haiti (July 22, 2019) and El Salvador (September 9, 2019).
Catholic Migration Services urges anyone who received TPS for Guinea, Liberia, Nepal, or Sierra Leone to call our office and schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation.
What happens next:
The court case will continue, and there may eventually be a court decision or settlement that resolves whether TPS can be terminated, and if so, the circumstances for such termination. Until then, the U.S. government cannot terminate TPS for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan.
How to Contact Us for Free Legal Advice:
If you are a TPS recipient for Guinea, Liberia, Nepal, or Sierra Leone and have questions or concerns, please call Catholic Migration Services in Brooklyn at (718) 236-3000 or in Queens at (347) 472-3500 for free legal advice about how this court decision may impact you. Our office hours are Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. For additional information, visit our website and follow us on social media via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @CMSBQ.
You can also obtain free legal advice by calling 311 and asking for “Action NYC.”
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by Natasha B. | Dec 23, 2017 | Immigration, Legal Services, Press Releases and Statements, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently made important announcements impacting the rights of people from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti who receive Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Honduras and Nicaragua were originally designated for TPS in 1999, after the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch while Haiti’s original designation for TPS was issued in 2010 following the effects of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake. The TPS designation has permitted Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Haitian nationals to live and work in the United States legally, to own homes and businesses, and to establish family roots.
Catholic Migration Services urges anyone who receives TPS for Honduras, Nicaragua, or Haiti to call our office and schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation.
The DHS Determination for TPS Holders from Honduras
The Department of Homeland Security announced that additional information is necessary regarding the TPS designation for Honduras, and therefore it has made no determination regarding Honduras at this time. As a result of the inability to make a determination, the TPS designation for Honduras will be automatically extended for six months from the current January 8, 2018 date of expiration to the new expiration date of July 5, 2018. TPS recipients from Honduras must re-register with DHS between December 15, 2017 and February 13, 2018.
TPS beneficiaries are reminded that, prior to July 5, 2018, the Secretary will review the conditions in Honduras and decide whether to extend or terminate the TPS designation. During this period, beneficiaries are encouraged to prepare for their return to Honduras in the event Honduras’ designation is not extended again and if they have no other lawful basis for remaining in the United States, including requesting updated travel documents from the Government of Honduras.
The DHS Determination for TPS Holders from Nicaragua
The Department of Homeland Security announced that the TPS designation for Nicaragua will terminate on January 5, 2019. At that time, nationals of Nicaragua (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) who have been granted TPS under the Nicaragua designation will no longer have TPS.
Nationals of Nicaragua (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) who have been granted TPS and wish to maintain their TPS and receive TPS-based Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) valid through January 5, 2019, must re-register for TPS. The 60-day re-registration period runs from December 15, 2017 through February 13, 2018. (NOTE: It is important for re-registrants to timely re-register during this 60-day period and not to wait until their EADs expire).
The DHS Determination for TPS Holders from Haiti
The Department of Homeland Security announced on November 20, 2017 that the TPS designation for Haiti will terminate on July 22, 2019. At that time, nationals of Haiti (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) who have been granted TPS under the Haiti designation will no longer have TPS.
Nationals of Haiti (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) who have been granted TPS and wish to maintain their TPS must re-register. Information about re-registration will be published in the Federal Register. No Federal Register Notice has been issued as of November 21, 2017. Please check this website periodically for updates regarding the renewal process.
How Anyone Can Advocate on Behalf of TPS Recipients
We urge the community to contact your local representatives and inform them to maintain this critical humanitarian protection. Take action by writing a letters(s) to the Administration and your local members of Congress requesting an extension of TPS; share stories; and learn more.
Catholic Migration Services is a non-profit organization that offers free immigration, employment, and housing legal services to Brooklyn and Queens residents. Please continue to visit our website at catholicmigration.org for further updates and important information about the government’s immigration policies.
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