Thousands of immigrants from El Salvador are awaiting a decision from the Trump administration regarding the potential expiration of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is scheduled to end on Wednesday. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet announced whether it will extend TPS for approximately 170,000 Salvadorans, including 36,000 in California. Other immigrant groups whose TPS has expired have faced arrests and deportations. Since the end of TPS for Haitians in July, many have been fitted with ankle monitors and some have been deported to Haiti, which is experiencing gang violence.
Salvadorans represent the largest group still benefiting from TPS, with over 100,000 individuals from Sudan, Ukraine, and Lebanon also holding TPS protections until later this year, primarily Ukrainians. TPS allows recipients to work legally in the U.S., and more than 150,000 U.S. citizen children have Salvadoran parents with TPS.
Border advisor Tom Homan stated that he does not know the administration’s plans for Salvadorans, as the decision rests with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. A statement from Homeland Security indicated that an announcement regarding TPS for El Salvador would be made at the appropriate time, and until then, Salvadorans under TPS retain their protections.
Homan remarked that El Salvador is now a “much safer country,” implying that conditions may have improved for returnees. He expressed approval of the administration’s adherence to the temporary nature of TPS.
The impending deadline has caused concern in communities, particularly in Los Angeles. Lorena Zepeda, a Salvadoran TPS holder, expressed her distress over the uncertainty of her status, stating, “Even though my work permit has been temporary, my life here is not temporary.” California has the highest number of Salvadoran TPS holders, with smaller groups in Texas, Maryland, and New York. Many work in construction, groundskeeping, and transportation, contributing an estimated $1.5 billion in taxes.
When President Trump took office, about 1.3 million people from 17 countries were enrolled in TPS. The Supreme Court ruled in June that Trump could end TPS for immigrants from Haiti and Syria without judicial review, paving the way for further terminations. The administration has ended TPS for over 1 million immigrants from 13 countries, with some terminations announced after expiration dates.
The potential termination of TPS for Salvadorans could significantly impact those who have held the status for 25 years, the longest of any country. Critics argue that the program has exceeded its original intent as a temporary measure. Established in 1990, TPS has been utilized by both Democratic and Republican administrations for immigrants from countries affected by conflict or disasters.
Trump attempted to terminate TPS for Salvadorans during his first term, but a legal appeal kept the protections in place until President Biden took office and reversed the decision, subsequently expanding TPS eligibility.
Zepeda, who arrived in the U.S. in the early 1990s, has been advocating for the continuation of TPS. As a community coordinator for the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), she has lobbied lawmakers to maintain the program. She reported receiving calls from TPS holders seeking guidance on their medical appointments and rent payments without work permits. Many aging Salvadorans are concerned about losing retirement benefits.
Zepeda stated, “We’ve marched. We’ve led hunger strikes. We’ve done it all…No matter what happens, the fight does not end. We will continue pushing to find legal stability in this country.”