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Rep. Soto Condemns DHS decision to Terminate TPS for El Salvador

January 8, 2018

Washington, D.C. U.S. Representative Darren Soto released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 200,000 Salvadorans:

"The Trump Administration's uncompassionate decision to end TPS for El Salvador will break up Florida's families and hurt our state's economy. Hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans, including their approximately 193,000 U.S.-born children, have contributed to our communities and called Central Florida home for over two decades. This counterproductive decision will pave the way for unjust mass deportations, causing further destabilization in neighboring southern countries besieged by violence and whose economy rely on remittances.

"I am proud to co-sponsor Rep. Carlos Curbelo's HR 4184, Extending Status Protection for Eligible Refugees with Established Residency Act of 2017 (ESPERER Act). This legislation would grant legal permanent resident status to qualified refugees from Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Haiti," stated Rep. Soto.

TPS is designated to individuals from countries that have ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, epidemics or other extraordinary conditions that prevent the country's nationals from returning home safely.

As announced by Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, TPS holders from El Salvador will have an 18-month termination delay to seek alternative lawful immigration status or arrange for departure from the United States.

Issues:Immigration