With the immigrant community of the US still in shock over President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, hundreds of thousands of immigrants in another program who, in some cases, have lived in the country for decades, could face a similar situation.
The program concerned is Temporary Protected Status. It is an immigration law provision, enabling temporary protection and work authorization given by the US government to immigrants, including some who may otherwise be undocumented, who come from certain dangerous nations. Armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and civil war are conditions that could merit the awarding of Temporary Protected Status, along with other temporary and extraordinary circumstances.
Although the status is supposed to be temporary, many recipients come from countries that have been in crisis for years, with protections for some groups lasting for decades. Over the next six months, the Trump administration will consider whether the status should be further extended to those who have lived in the US for such long periods.
Over 440,000 immigrants are currently under the protection of the program. A decision is overdue from the Department of Homeland Security on Sudan and South Sudan, with 1039 immigrants from the former and 49 from the latter currently under temporary protection, but their status will expire on 2 November. More immigrants from Haiti, Nicaragua, and Honduras are protected by the program, with their status set to expire in January.