DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status For These Latin American Nations

News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C. Tues. June 20, 2023: The US Department of Homeland Security, (DHS), has announced the extension of the Temporary Protected Status, (TPS), for Latin American nations El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua as well as Nepal, for another 18 months, as per notices posted today on the Federal Register.

US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, on June 13, 2023, reversed the previous terminations of these designations from 2017 and 2018 and granted an 18-month extension.

The decision to extend the TPS came about after Secretary Mayorkas consulted with interagency partners and thoroughly considered the ongoing circumstances in the aforementioned countries. As part of its standard operating procedures, DHS continues to monitor global conditions to ascertain the need for new TPS designations.

To maintain their TPS throughout the 18-month extension, beneficiaries of these four designations must re-register. Previous extensions of TPS-related documentation for current beneficiaries were made until June 30, 2024, to adhere to court orders in ongoing litigation, challenging the now-rescinded termination decisions. These new notices do not influence that action. Only individuals previously registered for and granted TPS under the prior designations of these countries can re-register.

FLASHBACK – Demonstrators from CASA, SEIU and other organizations, rally in Lafayette Park to demand “Temporary Protected Status for Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador on International Workers Day,” on Monday, May 1, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Individuals who migrated to the United States after the set continuous residence dates for these designations do not qualify for TPS. The respective continuous residence dates are: El Salvador – Feb. 13, 2001; Honduras – Dec. 30, 1998; Nepal – June 24, 2015; and Nicaragua – Dec. 30, 1998.

El Salvador’s TPS designation has been extended for 18 months, from Sept. 10, 2023, through March 9, 2025. This extension permits around 239,000 current TPS beneficiaries to re-register, provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria for TPS. Beneficiaries must re-register during the 60-day period from July 12, 2023, through Sept. 10, 2023.

The TPS for Honduras has been extended for 18 months, from January 6, 2024, through July 5, 2025. This enables approximately 76,000 beneficiaries to re-register and continue their TPS until July 5, 2025, if they meet eligibility requirements. Re-registration should occur during the 60-day period from Nov. 6, 2023, through Jan. 5, 2024.

Nepal’s TPS is extended for 18 months, from Dec. 25, 2023, through June 24, 2025. Approximately 14,500 existing TPS beneficiaries can re-register to retain TPS through June 24, 2025, if they meet the eligibility criteria. The re-registration period is from Oct. 24, 2023, through Dec. 23, 2023.

Nicaragua’s TPS has been extended for 18 months, from Jan. 6, 2024, through July 5, 2025. This allows around 4,000 current TPS beneficiaries to re-register to keep their TPS through July 5, 2025, if they meet eligibility requirements. Re-registration should take place within the 60-day period from Nov. 6, 2023, through Jan. 5, 2024.

The reversal of the termination of TPS designations for these four countries is effective from June 9, 2023.