Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


US Extends Temporary Protected Status for 6 Disaster-Hit Countries

Reuters

   WASHINGTON/TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS - Washington has agreed to prolong a
   set of temporary migration protections that allow immigrants from six
   countries to live in the United States, officials said Monday.

   The so-called Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for some citizens of El
   Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras and Nepal was extended by
   the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until at least October 2021.

   TPS allows some foreigners whose home countries experience a natural
   disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event to remain in the
   United States and apply for work permits. The status must be renewed
   periodically in six- to 18-month intervals by the secretary of Homeland
   Security.

   TPS has been in the crosshairs of Republican President Donald Trump's
   administration in recent months as it seeks to scale back humanitarian
   protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were scheduled
   to be expelled from the United States in early March after a wind-down
   period.

   The extension is part of an agreement between the administration and
   plaintiffs in related lawsuits not to terminate the protections as the
   lawsuits filter through the U.S. court system.

   Democratic President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to protect enrollees
   from being returned to unsafe countries.

   The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a
   request for comment.

.