What Is TPS? Facts

We’re hearing about a class of immigrants who have TPS. The Immigration Act of 1990 created a new migrant protection, Temporary Protected Status.  TPS allows presidents to grant migrants a haven when they fail to qualify for refugee status but flee dangerous political situations or natural disasters.

Here are recent figures for TPS-immigrants: El Salvador, 204,000; Guinea, 2,000; Haiti, 50,000; Honduras, 61,000; Liberia, 4,000; Nepal, 10,000-25,000; Nicaragua,  2,800; Sierra Leone, 2,000; Somalia, 270; South Sudan, 300-500; Sudan, 600; and Syria, 5,000.

Presidents of both parties have been extending TPS status, waiting for Congress to resolve the fate of these migrants, since the early 1990s.

President Trump has already announced rescission of TPS status. This means that when these temporary stays expire, people will not be legally eligible to work. They will also be deported.

My thoughts: Whether a wall is moral or immoral is beside the point. Deporting these people will not make us safer or spare us from the drug trade. However, deportation will make a new humanitarian crisis as moms and dads with TPS status are separated from their American-born children for deportation.
OPTIONS:
1. Re-extend TPS status for a limited period (President Trump proposed that today in exchange for $5.7 in border-wall funds).
2. End TPS (President Trump has already done this. This means when TPS status expires for groups in 2019 and 2020 they are subject to immediate deportation).
3. Grant all TPS recipients permanent resident status. They could reside and work permanently in the U.S. They coud not vote or serve in the military.
4. Create a path to citizenship. Common ideas are 10-14 years of continuous U.S. residence, and no criminal record.