The Trump administration has announced the end of temporary protected status for hundreds of thousands of people, but other options may be available to enable the affected immigrants to stay in the U.S. Illinois immigrants who are losing TPS may be able to file for adjustments of status, apply for permanent residence on the basis of being victims of certain types of crime or seek asylum. A Chicago immigration lawyer might identify options that are the likeliest to succeed so that people might be able to remain in the U.S.
End of TPS
Temporary protected status is a program that was signed into law in 1990 by President Bush. The program allows people to stay in the U.S. when the situations in their home countries are too precarious for them to return. Some of the groups that had this status include people from Haiti, Nicaragua and El Salvador. The Trump administration has announced an end of TPS for immigrants from all three of these countries, affecting several hundred thousand people. In addition, the TPS of Hondurans was extended only until July 5, 2018, meaning that their status may also be terminated.
Other Options
In Illinois, there are 1,300 Salvadorans with TPS who contribute $69.3 million each year to the state’s gross domestic product. These immigrants have had 1,000 children who were born in the U.S. The parents may be able to apply for adjustments of status based on their family relationships to their U.S. born children if their children are 21 years old or older. Immigrants with TPS who are married to U.S. citizens may similarly apply for adjustments of status. Certain categories of highly skilled workers may also be eligible to apply for adjustments of status based on their employment or their investment.
In addition, people may apply for green cards if they have been the victims of domestic violence or of human trafficking. This will require them to cooperate with law enforcement and the prosecution. If people can show that they would be in imminent danger because of their religion, status, membership in a particular group or politics, they may be eligible to apply for asylum. All of these are potential options that might allow people losing TPS to stay in the U.S.
