Maryland senators propose permanent residence for TPS holders

The new administration of the US, led by President Joe Biden, is opening a door for immigrant rights advocates, activist groups and members of the Senate to voice their immigration proposals and improve the way in which the federal government approaches immigration.

For instance, several Maryland Democratic senators plan to introduce an immigration bill to offer permanent protection to more than 400,000 TPS (Temporary Protected Status) beneficiaries, who currently reside in the US.

Senators argue that the previous administration, led by former President Donald Trump, constantly threatened TPS beneficiaries, causing trauma and instilling fear among the most vulnerable immigrant communities.

They state that TPS holders need a path to permanent residence and not just temporary protection from deportation. In fact, one of the senators involved in the project states that “Many (TPS holders) have lived here legally for over twenty years – and have come to call our country home. But over the last four years, the livelihoods of these individuals have been under constant threat. Now, alongside the Biden Administration, we must prioritize providing TPS recipients security and certainty.”

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Who is eligible to apply for TPS?

Since 1990, the US has offered temporary protection from deportation to eligible immigrants through the TPS program. The DHS (Department of Homeland Security) is the entity in charge of choosing beneficiary countries of this immigration program.

Citizens of countries designated by DHS, who already reside in the US and meet mandatory requirements, can access this benefit. Adding to that, TPS beneficiaries can apply for an EAD (Employment Authorization Document) and travel authorization.

DHS is also in charge of setting the duration of TPS for each country, which normally varies between 6 and 18 months. In fact, there are hundreds of immigrants who have resided in the US for decades under this immigration benefit because DHS has extended the duration of TPS for their countries multiple times.

Also, DHS selects TPS beneficiary countries depending on local conditions. It is important to clarify that eligible countries usually experience ongoing armed conflict, civil war, natural disasters, epidemics, inter alia. These precarious situations could put the integrity of immigrants deported from the US at risk.

Currently, there are 10 TPS beneficiary countries:

• Yemen.
• Syria.
• South Sudan.
• Sudan.
• El Salvador.
• Haiti.
• Nepal.
• Honduras.
• Nicaragua.
• Somalia.

Recently, several members of the Senate have proposed offering permanent residency to TPS holders and granting this benefit to more countries. For instance, in late January 2021, several Democratic senators introduced a proposal to offer a form of protection to Venezuelan citizens currently residing in the US without legal documentation. Venezuelans do not yet have TPS.

We can help you with your immigration case!

Now that immigration processes are returning to normal and the Biden administration plans to expand alternatives available for foreigners to come to the US, it is the right time to start your immigration journey.

Therefore, if you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.