Washington, DC | www.adc.org | January 31, 2018 – Moments ago, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decided to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 7,000 Syrian beneficiaries in the U.S. The decision only allows current TPS holders to renew their status. DHS refused to re-designate Syria for TPS. ADC filed a formal petition with DHS and DOS requesting re-designation and extension of TPS for Syria.
ADC is outraged that DHS has refused to re-designate TPS for Syria. By not re-designating TPS for Syria, Syrians fleeing violence and persecution will not be able to apply for protection. This will have a devastating impact on Syrian nationals who have sought safe haven in the United States since 2016. Moreover, it will undermine family reunification for an estimated 2,000 Syrian nationals in the U.S.
TPS allows nationals from designated countries facing humanitarian disasters and/or domestic strife to legally stay in the U.S. TPS does not confer a path to permanent residency, but, rather, provides a safe haven until beneficiaries can return to their homes without harm.
When TPS was last renewed for Syrians in 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) argued that “the return of Syrian nationals to Syria would pose a serious threat to their personal safety” due to Syria’s ongoing civil war. Syrians who enter the U.S. undergo numerous levels of security and background checks and have been thoroughly vetted and screened. It is essential that TPS remains available for Syrian nationals until peace is restored in their country. At a time when Syria remains a battleground where the U.S. military is actively involved, it is unconscionable that DHS would refuse to re-designate Syria for TPS.
The ADC Legal Department provides assistance with all immigration-related matters, including assistance with TPS and asylum claims. For questions about TPS, contact ADC Legal at 202-244-2990, or send an email to legal@adc.org.