Time is running out for the nearly 200,000 Salvadorans living in the U.S. under temporary protected status (TPS).
A small rally formed outside the White House Tuesday evening as advocates and some lawmakers push for a last-minute extension, but so far, none have been granted.
There are 32,000 Salvadoran TPS holders living in the D.C. metro area, the most of any metropolitan area across the country. And now, many of them who’ve lived here for decades are fearful for the future — They simply don’t know what’s going to happen.
TPS protects those who have it from deportation and allows them to work in the U.S.
An immigration attorney told News4 that the federal government failed to meet certain notification requirements, so TPS should be extended for six months — But that’s not guaranteed.
The attorney told News4 TPS holders need legal advice to know what their options are.
Some are concerned they could be arrested, deported, lose their work permits and even their social security benefits that they have been accruing for a number of years.
“This is my home for 32 years and my daughter, too,” said Soledad, a TPS holder who was at the rally. “This is your home. Everybody coming for working, for the economy that’s here. I don’t understand why. Where is the problem?”
“These people have contributed to this country for 25 years,” said activist Tony Guardad. “They’ve been paying taxes, they open business, they own business, and they are they being a backbone of the economy, especially on the construction side in the DMV area.”
The Department of Homeland Security told News4 in the past that this program is supposed to be temporary and has become sort of a de facto amnesty program when it’s not meant to be, so there’s no indication that the Trump administration is going to extend TPS.
