FAIR Applauds Decision by DHS Secretary Nielsen to End Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans

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Jan 08, 2018, 11:51 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued by Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) President Dan Stein in response to the announcement by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen that the administration is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of El Salvador:

"The decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans, effective September 2019, is long overdue and welcome, sending the strongest signal yet that rampant abuse of the TPS program will no longer be accepted by this administration. However, we do believe that six months' notice is all that would be necessary.

"TPS is a policy tool created by Congress in 1990 that allows the U.S. government to extend temporary protections for those visiting the U.S. whose home countries experience natural disasters while they are here. However, in practice, most of the true beneficiaries of TPS are not temporary visitors, but rather people who entered the United States illegally. This holds true for most of the roughly 260,000 Salvadorans who have enjoyed protections since a series of devastating earthquakes ravaged their country nearly 20 years ago.

"If those who benefit from TPS status never return home due to a pattern of unjustified extensions, then future administrations will be unwilling and unable to justify extending this temporary public policy safety net to those who find themselves in a similar situation in the future. Secretary Nielsen and the administration should be applauded for recognizing the temporary nature of this policy tool and for their willingness to stand up for the original intent of the law as passed by Congress.

"Today's announcement underscores the temporary nature of TPS, and reminds us that it was never intended to be used as a tool to sidestep the legal immigration process. 'Temporary' clearly does not mean 'forever.'"

ABOUT FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With more than 1.3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

CONTACT: Joe Gomez, 202-328-7004 ext 132, [email protected]

SOURCE FAIR