WASHINGTON DC (KOLO) – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen are helping introduce a bill to provide protections for TPS recipients.
They, Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 28 other Senators put forth legislation providing qualified TPS and Deferred Enforced Departure recipients a path to permanent residency.
“After escaping horrific violence and persecution in their home countries, TPS and DED recipients come to this country in search of a better life,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “These hardworking men and women have been living in and contributing to our communities for years, and it’s common sense to give them the certainty they need to fulfill the American Dream.”
“The Temporary Protected Status program has been a lifeline that has allowed people and families facing unimaginable circumstances to find a safe refuge here in the United States,”said Senator Rosen. “TPS recipients contribute to our communities and our economy, and they deserve a pathway to permanent residency, which is why I’m proud to help introduce this bill. I’ll keep standing up to protect Nevada’s immigrant families.”
They say the Trump administration has revoked the TPS status of around 563,000 recipients from Venezuela, Haiti, Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Nepal.
They say the bill, called the SECURE Act, would provide long term protections for these people and give them the ability to apply for permanent legal residency. Under their bill, all TPS recipients, both past and present, continuously in the U.S. for at least three years would be eligible for legal permanent residency.
Additionally, under the SECURE Act:
- A spouse, domestic partner, child, or unmarried child of a qualifying non-citizen would be eligible to obtain permanent resident status (upon meeting certain requirements).
- Individuals with a pending TPS application will receive work authorization and be eligible for travel authorization.
- Non-citizens who have a pending application or is prima facie eligible for permanent status under the bill and intends to apply are shielded from deportation.
- Information from an applicant’s application may not be shared or used for immigration enforcement purposes, with limited exceptions, such as for the identification of fraudulent claims.
- DHS must report to Congress when terminating a country’s TPS designation with an explanation to justify the termination.
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