BlogLine

New Developments in TPS and DACA

1/18/18

By: Kenneth S. Levine
This past week the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for citizens of El Salvador.  DHS reports that there are approximately 200,000 El Salvadoran citizens living and working in the United States.  TPS designation for El Salvador will officially terminate on September 9, 2019.  USCIS has publicly stated that if TPS recipients are unable to obtain green cards or acquire a different legal status prior to that date, then they will be placed into deportation proceedings.
While the general public may perceive the USCIS advisory to “obtain a green card or seek a change of status to a different visa category” to be an easily attainable option, the reality is far different.  TPS recipients must still fully satisfy strict legal criteria to qualify for those options.  For the vast majority of TPS recipients, this will prove exceedingly difficult to achieve.
FMG Immigration Attorneys are currently engaged in assessing whether any of our TPS clientele from El Salvador qualify for permanent residency or a different visa category.  It is important to note that for those who do not qualify, legal options may be available in the context of deportation proceedings.  It is anticipated that this current administration will continue to terminate TPS designations for countries remaining in the TPS program.  Therefore, it is critically important that all TPS recipients promptly seek legal advice from experienced immigration counsel to assess their legal options.

DACA

Another significant development in the immigration field occurred on January 9th when U.S. District Judge William Alsup issued an injunction against the current administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.   This program was scheduled to end on March 5th.  For now, DHS must accept DACA renewal applications.  It is anticipated that the court’s injunction will be promptly appealed and therefore it is entirely uncertain how long the injunction will remain in place.  For now, FMG Immigration Attorneys strongly recommend that all DACA recipients who otherwise would be eligible to renew their status do so as soon as possible.
For additional information related to this topic and for advice regarding how to navigate U.S. immigration laws you may contact Kenneth S. Levine of the law firm of Freeman, Mathis & Gary, LLP at (770-551-2700) or klevine@fmglaw.com.