TPS Extended through January 2, 2020 for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua & Sudan

On February 28, 2019 the Department of Homeland Security announced that it was extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan until January 2, 2020.

TPS beneficiaries from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan who properly re-registered during the most recent Registration period DO NOT need to file a new application for re-registration. The extension automatically extends TPS for individuals from those four countries to January 2, 2020.

TPS beneficiaries from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan are subject to the Ramos et al v. Nielson case. On October 4, 2018 – in the case of Ramos et al v. Nielson, US District Judge Edward Chen granted a preliminary injunction stopping the Trump Administration from terminating TPS for individuals from Sudan, El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua.

The Department of Homeland Security references Ramos et al v. Nielson and the injunction in its recent notice, stating that TPS for individuals from Sudan, El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua will not be terminated unless there is a final decision, or separate order from the court that would affect the current injunction.

If a decision is made in the Ramos et al v. Nielson case allowing the Department of Homeland Security to terminate TPS for these four countries, the Department will allow for an “orderly transition period” of either; (1) 120 days after the final order from the court, or (2) on the date of termination the Department previously announced.

It is important to note that the Department of Homeland Security announcement effect the termination of TPS for Honduras, Nepal, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Somalia. As of today, the dates for TPS termination for those countries are as follows:

-South Sudan – TPS set to terminate on May 2, 2019

Nepal – TPS set to terminate on June 24, 2019

Syria – TPS set to terminate on September 30, 2019

Honduras – TPS set to terminate on January 5, 2020

Yemen – TPS set to terminate on March 3, 2020

Somalia – TPS set to terminate on March 17, 2020

While their TPS remains valid, TPS beneficiaries who have not re-registered for TPS during the last registration period can still file to re-register, but must demonstrate “good cause” for their failure to re-register on time.

Any individual with TPS should continue to monitor uscis.gov for updates regarding re-registration and the status of the preliminary injunction protecting those from Sudan, El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua.

For more information on the status of TPS for any country, re-registering for TPS, or other immigration-related inquiries, please contact Kolko & Casey, P.C. at (303) 371-1822.