CCUSA Catholic partners urge DHS to extend temporary protected status for Honduras, El Salvador
Sister Donna Markham OP, PhD, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), joined Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, representatives of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) in sending a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Elaine Duke, urging an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras and El Salvador.
TPS is a temporary, renewable, and statutorily authorized immigration status that allows individuals to remain and work lawfully in the U.S. during a period in which it is deemed unsafe for nationals of that country to return home.
The temporary period for individuals from both countries is set to expire shortly, which, according to the letter’s signatories, “would be inhumane and untenable.” Neither country is currently in a position to handle the return of their nationals who have TPS.
The signatories ask Secretary Duke “to show compassion and patience as Honduras and El Salvador continue to improve their citizen security and humanitarian capacity for reception, protection, and integration.