TPS Extended For Salvadorans
By Greg L | 22 August 2007 | National Politics, Illegal Aliens | 43 Comments
There truly is nothing more eternal than a “temporary” federal program.
The Miami Herald is reporting that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced yesterday that it would extend “Temporary Protected Status” for Salvadoran illegal aliens for another 18 months.
Earlier this year, the immigration service agreed to continue TPS for an estimated 234,000 Salvadorans in the United States. Under TPS, certain undocumented immigrants from a country in crisis are eligible for temporary protection from deportation. They have to be specifically designated for the protection by the U.S. government. Under the extension, Salvadorans who had previously registered for TPS can reapply for 18 more months, until March 9, 2009. The reregistration period began Tuesday and ends Oct. 22.
Much of that Salvadoran population resides in the Metropolitan Washington area and in Prince William County.
The purpose of this TPS program is to aid those fleeing from El Salvador’s civil war that ended in 1992. Now, fifteen years later, the “temporary” protected status of these persons is again being renewed at the same time the federal government is establishing a similar program for Iraqi refugees. One wonders if we’ll be having this discussion about iraqis in the year 2022.
This ridiculous program to protect illegal aliens well after any such humanitarian need has ended is outrageous.
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Does this give them the legal right to work here?
It is complete bs in the case of El Salvadorans and I hope this issue gets visited publicly in future.
Give me a break, 15 years after the fact. What’s “temporary” about this program? I suppose there’ll be another extension come 3/09/08. Rick Bentley is right, this issue needs visited publicly in the NEAR future.
How long do you think the “temporary worker” program would have lasted had the immigration bill been passed?
Once again the Federal Government shows it is not the least bit concerned with real immigration reform.
The economy of El Salvadora will never be good enough in the eyes of the Feds to warrant the return of those El Salvadorans here. I guess it is along the same lines of “fully funded” schools, an open definition that will never be met.
Why isn’t el salvador on the State Dept’s list of Travel Warnings
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html
How does this program relate to the temporary workers program that was just renewed this year for Salvadorans because of earthquake disaster?
I believe this is a separate program. TPS was instituted because of the civil war in El Salvador during the Reagan Administration.
It sure seems that we have a lot of programs out there to help Salvadorans. The earthquake disaster program keeps on being renewed, and renewed, and renewed.
Just an observation.
No, it has to do with the 2001 earthquakes. Nothing to do with the civil war. Those salvadorans with TPS got green cards a long time ago (NACARA).
For the first time I have to say Greg that you got your facts wrong!!!!! It doesn’t mean that the temporary program has been here for quite some time but there I confirm my point that there is no way to identify legals vs, illegals.
Would someone give me the entire straight story on the earthquake work relief? I have tried to find it online and cannot. I think it is critical in our discussions because of the number of Salvadorans in the Prince William area. When did it start, how long will it continue to be renewed, how many people does it involve, what kind of visa was originally granted, etc.
For the record, I am not trying to start an argument or take issue with anything that has been previously said. I just want information.
(no promises not to argue later though…grin)
From the USCIS website:
El Salvador was previously designated under the TPS program, pursuant to section 303 of the Immigration Act of 1990. That designation expired in 1992, at which time TPS beneficiaries were offered Deferral of Enforced Departure (DED), a related form of temporary relief from removal. Those earlier TPS and DED programs are unrelated to the year 2001 TPS designation for El Salvador.
That’s nine years before the earthquakes happened, folks.
The program was extended following the 2001 earthquakes, but was initially enacted for the purpose of providing relief to refugees of the civil war in El Salvador. Undoubtedly, there will be some other reason in the future to continue extending this program further, as there is never going to be an end to natural or man-made disasters in Central America which will prompt Congress to renew this program again and again.
I finally found something that wasn’t coded in government-ese. Here is a link that gives some history of the earthquake issue. Unless I have read it wrong, the earthquake TPS relief only applied to people who were in the United States between the 2 major earthquakes.
http://www.rapidimmigration.com/www/latest_ins/March_02_2001_3.html
I believe I am coming away from this question more confused than ever. Perhaps this confusion is a direct result of our ridiculous, insane immigration laws. Our immigration laws are more confusing than the IRS rules.
Let me rephrase the question. Is there a linear timeline on this issue? (or series of issues)
One final set of questions, before throwing my hands up and just admitting defeat….are the Salvadorans here under TPS legal or illegal? Was TPS for either civil war or earthquakes, a form of assylum or granting amnesty to those who were here illegally in the first place?
As far as I can tell, it’s a “temporary” get-out-of-jail-free card that prevents removal while TPS is granted. I do not know whether it allows beneficiaries to obtain a “temporary” “green card”, but I imagine it would.
From my reading, those with TPS are legal, and it was initially established for the civil war, extended for the earthquakes, and will be extended any time there’s something bad that happens in El Salvador. Fortunately, it’s only available to those who entered the country legally or illegally prior to 2001. Unfortunately, for those who were here then, they seem to have an indefinite exception to immigration laws.
I wonder how well they’re verifying residency prior to the cutoff date. My suspicion is that this program is subject to some degree of fraud.
Thanks. I guess my hat is off to any Salvadoran who can cut through all the obsfucation regarding this ….relief?????
Perhaps this is a good example of why the federal government doesn’t enforce its own immigration laws. The laws are so confusing and convoluted, the feds simply don’t understand them.
We are legal under TPS, we do taxes every year, we pay taxes for everything.
We hope so very soon can get Green Card.
The USA goverment can check ours criminal record and give the Green Card to the people with clean record; we need see the family in our country, we have years and years separate to the families, christmas coming and going, illness coming and going but we can’t go unless the family are dying.
We need see our families in live, if the USA goverment permit our visit to El Salvador unless 1 time a year, we feel better and we spend money here and there, but the most important is stay close to the family.
We are legal under TPS, we do taxes every year, we pay taxes for everything.
We hope so very soon can get Green Card.
The USA goverment can check ours criminal record and give the Green Card to the people with clean record; we need see the family in our country, we have years and years separate to the families, christmas coming and going, illness coming and going but we can’t go unless the family are dying.
We need see our families in live, if the USA goverment permit our visit to El Salvador unless 1 time a year and we spend money here and there, but the most important is stay close to the family.
Form the DHS website:
“El Salvador was previously designated under the TPS program, pursuant to section 303 of the Immigration Act of 1990. That designation expired in 1992, at which time TPS beneficiaries were offered Deferral of Enforced Departure (DED), a related form of temporary relief from removal. Those earlier TPS and DED programs are unrelated to the year 2001 TPS designation for El Salvador.”
Check it out if you want it:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1842e5878591e010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=609d3591ec04d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD
You don’t get green cards, you get a permit to work. Why is it your assumption Greg that it is a way to get out of jail?
I know students who were benefited by this permit and know they conduct research in universities9friends that I got to know in grad school).
Dolph,
It benefits about 250,000 who have been paying taxes, have a criminal record checked out every time that the permit is renewed, and everything the do is checked against the DHS databses ( driver license, jobs,etc).
It would be great if you try to get into this whole thing of TPS. It is not only for salvadorans. Some Nicaraguans and Hondurans just got it again. Liberia had it but it seems that they were able to get their status permanent. I think Burundi has it.
This is an example of a sucessful program for immigrants in terms of knowing who they are and where they live (if you move into a new place you have to report the new address within ten days).
Folks, you have always said that you are in favor of legal immigration and that you welcome legal immigrants, then dn’t waste yourtime with the TPS salvadorans. Th government gave them a chance to be part of this society and they are working to comply and follow the rulemoflaw.
Focus on illegal aliens who are destroying your communities and not on those who have proved to follow the rules. Those who were benefited by the program and broke the law are in El Salvador. It is very easy to know where you are.
TH….the point is….they were illegal prior to being given that “amnesty”. Who’s next? That is nothing other than a form of “amnesty”.
TH…do you suppose those people that were given “amnesty” will have anchor babies? I think so. Then what will happen when the supposed timeline expires? No deportations….that’s what! Another amnesty loop-hole is what it is.
Are they legal now Patriot? They got amnesty, sure but are they breaking the law? If they do it is very easy to spot them.
I hear a lot that you want them to comply with the law and pay taxes.
They have been doing that for six years. What else do you want? How else do they prove that they are doing eveyhing right?
Then I have to think patriot that what you are expecting s Michael Jackson change so they cannot be recognized as brown people.
To answer your question, not all of them were illegally here. Some were visiting and some were studying.
People with TPS are not illegal. If they entered after Hurricane Mitch (or whatever event precipitated TPS) and registered, why do you consider them illegal?
Enter with permission, register with government, US government extends TPS, pay taxes all along… How is that illegal?
I have to say that my understanding of TPS designations is, when an individual who is a member of an eligible group applies and is approved, they do in fact have a legal status in the US. TPS status is granted for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to those fleeing to the US for political reasons, as was the case with the Salvadorean refugees fleeing the 80’s era Civil War. Similar status was granted to Nicaraguans fleeing the Sandanista regime. The SE Asian “boat people” entered this country under TPS. Also, the “dry foot” policy for Cubans who make it to US shores is part of the TPS program. The program is not intended to allow those who enter the US for economic reasons (the very reason most illegals enter the country) to obtain legal status. That is not to say that those who are indeed eligible, who fail to apply, should not face deportation if apprehended.
I agree that this, like many Federal programs is mismanaged at times, and “temporary Federal programs” are somewhat like Unicorns. However, overall it is a program founded on the original ideals of the US, that those fleeing political and religious persecution can receive temporary protective status here. For the purposes of the discussion on illegal vs. legal, those who go through the process should be considered legal. Those who are eligible should be ecouraged to to do so, assimilate, and become Americans in the truest sense.
This is not a real ammnesty, as was granted to millions in 1986, and as was proposed this past Senate session. What we must continue to demand of the Federal Government is that they secure the borders and enforce US immigration law within our borders. If someone is in this country legally under the TPS is apprehended for committing a felony (i.e. participation in a gang, serial DUI, etc.) they should be deported as well.
TH is right. They’re legal and I welcome them.
The legal ones that have been granted this status is fine. Those that were here illegally and granted this status is the problem. It is a loop-hole that can be used to grant amnesty to large groups of potentially undocumented people.
Advocator and to those that are screaming but “they are legal”…when the Senate was working on the “Amnesty” bill that was voted down…that would have made “illegals” legal. Amnesty is amnesty. And Amnesty is a problem.
TH…you yourself admit that it is “amnesty”. Amnesty is a reward for lawbreakers and will encourage more to come and break the laws.
My question is Patriot, How long you would go back to recognize someone as legal even if they were illegally when they got amnesty?
Do you have a problem with the citizens now who were here illegally in 1986 when amnesty was granted? How about those from 1968? or the anchor babies of those who cam here illegally in the 20s’?
When do you finally make it? What is the standard?
The Salvadorans for example had to prove that they didn’t commit any major crime but coming here illegally(technically that is a misdemeanor. I am not condoning it just saying it). For the past six years their records are clean so they are respecting our laws or they are gone. How many more years would you give these lawbrakers to prove that they respect our laws? none?
I understand your point about encouraging people to come once you accept some of them, but what do you do with those here who are doing what they were asked to?
TH, Greg, Thanks for the information. It is a shame that our immigration laws are so difficult to understand and locate. I was totally confused by this.
What was Negra saying about being seperated from family? Surely your nuclear family is included under TPS?
TPS recipients appear to be legal. Lets cut them a break here. If they were once illegal, that’s the past. Plus, how would you know. It seems to be a moot point now.
There are enough problems out there to go after that we shouldn’t run out for a long time.
TH, I don’t agree with giving people amnesty during any period! The last amnesty is what has caused us major problems this time around. There is a lot more criminal activity involved in being an illegal than you mention. First, there is the illegal entry. Second, there is the illegal residing. Third, there is document forgery and identity theft. Fourth, there is stealing of benefits that are for legal citizens. These are major and if a legal citizen were to do all of this they would be sent to jail for a very long time. Amnesty is no good. Knowing that amnesty is a possibility draws more people here hoping that they will get it.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200707/POL20070727a.html
And to top off what I said above, we the legal taxpayers will pay the bills! How fun!
I call bull … the TPS program is rife with fraud.
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=leg_legislationd310
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_research17bc
http://www.vdare.com/mann/amnesty_fraud.htm
http://www.vdare.com/mann/tps.htm
http://www.vdare.com/mann/index.htm
http://www.deportaliens.com/
http://www.steinreport.com/archives/2006_02_23.html
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57087
“H.R. 502 proposed to spend $90 million to provide Mexican law enforcement with sophisticated military technology, training and equipment from the U.S. military to assist Mexico in fighting the drug war.
The other goal of the bill was to spend another $80 million to provide economic development assistance to Mexico under the premise that combating Mexican poverty would also combat Mexican drugs.”
So we don’t have the funds to clean our own house but we do to give away?!? Amazing!
Dolph,
The TPS doesn’t cover your family if they were not here in the US when the status was granted. You cannot leave the country either. They approve advanced parole just in extreme cases. It allows you to leave the country but it is up to the immigration officer at the airport to let you back in.
I guess that is the price of getting a permit to work legally. You chose to come to the country illegally, then those are the consequences.
TH,
That seems rather tough. It hardly sounds like anyone is getting a buy in this case.
This is why this is a nantional issue. Frank Wolf and Tom Davis need to step up and do the right thing. All this local stuff gets people fired up, but it is window dressing compared to what the Feds can do. They need to be held accountable next year.
They have taken over parts of DC, in many cases not bothering to assimilate at all and doing things that annoy heck out of the citizens who live there. Why? Why do the middle and lower class have to live next to housefuls of these people every time some bleeding heart politician decides to do a favor to tens or hundreds of thousands of people? Why don;t the Ted kennedys of the world put these people up in their own communities or housing complexes, not let them in like a plague upon the citizens of DC and other cities. It’s easy to play Mr. or Mrs. social engineer when your gated community is not full of overcrowded houses and people who don’t even speak English.
As much anger as there is in NoVa about the illegals issue, there is a real undercurrent of rage in DC about illegals and Salvadorans. Would that the Democratic party and liberal politicians would wake up to the issue and the damage done to our communities and our society by these mass influxes of unassimilated people who come here for money, not freedom.
Rick,
Who is in the White House at the moment? Forgive me, I am not suggesting that the Democrats would do one bit better. However, until very recently we had a Republican Congress, we still have a Republican president. I think that is where the buck stops.
This is why Tom Tancredo must be elected!
I want to know if i have to send a pictures renew for TPS?
I came to the United States legally in 2001 from El Salvador and was granted TPS. I was here when I learned that my country had been practically destroyed and we still cannot locate over half of my family. You cannot imagine what these earthquakes have done to El Salvador unless you experience it firsthand.
In the United States I work, pay taxes, and contribute to the economy legally. You wouldn’t believe the discrimination I face about “illegal immigrants in this country that steal American jobs”. I’m hoping that soon people will get their facts right as to what is legal and what is not.
I also wanted to let NEGRA know that you can travel home to El Salvador with TPS status. You just need to file for Advance Parole before traveling. The USCIS grants permission to TPS recipients for emergency travel.