Dream Act And DACA Policies Designed To Protect Dreamers

With the rescission of the Deferred Action for Children Arrivals (DACA) initiative, there has been renewed pressure on Congress to pass federal legislation known as the Dream Act to protect young immigrants who are vulnerable to deportation. This fact sheet provides an overview of the Dream Act and other similar legislative proposals, explains changes made to DACA on March 13, 2019, and provides information about policies at the state level that support Dreamers. 


History of the Dream Act

The first version of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was introduced in 2001. As a result, young undocumented immigrants have since been called Dreamers. Over the last 18 years, at least ten versions of the Dream Act have been introduced in Congress. While the various versions of the Dream Act have contained some key differences , they all would have provided a pathway to legal status for undocumented youth who came to this country as children. Some versions have garnered as many as 48 co-sponsors in the Senate and 152 in the House. 

Despite bipartisan support for each bill, none has become law. The bill came closest to full passage in 2010 when it passed the House of Representatives but fell just five votes short of the 60 necessary to proceed in the Senate. 

In July 2017, versions of the Dream Act were introduced in the Senate by Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) and in the House by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). That year, members of the House of Representatives introduced several other legislative proposals to address undocumented youth, most of which were variants on the Dream Act. Although some of these bills drew significant support, none became law. 


Current Federal Legislative Proposals

The most recent version of the Dream Act, H.R. 2820, was introduced in May 2019 in the House by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA). H.R. 2820 was passed by the House Judiciary Committee on May 22, 2019, and the bill was subsequently combined with H.R. 2821, the American Promise Act of 2019, to form H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019. H.R.6 would provide permanent legal status for “Dreamers” as well as beneficiaries of two humanitarian programs: Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure. 


What Does the Dream Act do? 

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 allows current, former, and future undocumented high-school graduates and GED recipients a three-step pathway to U.S. citizenship through college, work, or the armed services. 


STEP 1: CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENCE

An individual is eligible to obtain conditional permanent resident (CPR) status for up to 10 years, which includes work authorization, if the person: 

• Entered the United States under the age of 18;
• Entered four years prior to enactment and has since been continuously present;
• Has been admitted to an institution of higher education, has graduated high school or obtained a GED, or is currently enrolled in secondary school or a program assisting students to obtain a high school diploma or GED.
• Has not been convicted of any "crime involving moral turpitude" or controlled substance offense, any crime punishable by more than one year in prison, or three or more offenses under state or federal law where the individual was imprisoned for 90 days or more. There is an exception for offenses which are essential to a person’s immigration status;
• Has not been convicted of a crime of domestic violence unless the individual can prove the crime was related to being the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, child abuse, neglect in later life, human trafficking, battery, or extreme cruelty.

Under the terms of the bill, the Secretary of Homeland Security can issue waivers for humanitarian purposes, for family unity, or when the waiver is otherwise in the public interest. In addition, anyone who has DACA would be granted a swift path to CPR status. 


STEP 2: LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE

Anyone who maintains CPR status can obtain lawful permanent residence (LPR status or a “green card”) by satisfying one of the following requirements: 

• Higher education: Has completed at least two years, in good standing, of higher education or of a program leading to a certificate/credential from an area career and technical education school;
• Military service: Has completed at least two years of military service with an honorable discharge;
• Work: Can demonstrate employment over a total period of three years.

Individuals who cannot meet one of these requirements can apply for a “hardship waiver” if the applicant is a person with disabilities, a full-time caregiver of a minor child, or for whom removal would cause extreme hardship to a spouse, parent, or child who is a national or lawful permanent resident of the United States. 


STEP 3: NATURALIZATION

After maintaining LPR status for five years, an individual can generally apply to become a U.S. citizen through the normal process. 

According to the Migration Policy Institute, as many as 2.31 million individuals would qualify for conditional permanent resident status under the 2019 version of the Dream Act, putting them on a path to citizenship. The bill would also provide a path to citizenship for an estimated 429,000 people who are current or former beneficiaries of TPS or DED. 


Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

On June 15, 2012, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA is an exercise of prosecutorial discretion, providing temporary relief from deportation (deferred action) and work authorization to certain young undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. DACA has enabled almost 800,000 eligible young adults to work lawfully, attend school, and plan their lives without the constant threat of deportation, usually to an unfamiliar country. nlike federal legislation, however, DACA does not provide permanent legal status to individuals and must be renewed every two years. 

On September 5, 2017, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke rescinded the 2012 DACA memorandum and announced a “wind down” of DACA. Effective immediately, no new applications for DACA would be accepted. DACA beneficiaries whose status was due to expire before March 5, 2018 were permitted to renew their status for an additional two years if they applied by October 5, 2017. Any person for whom DACA would have expired as of March 6, 2018, would no longer have deferred action or employment authorization. 

On January 9, 2018, a federal judge in California blocked the Trump administration’s termination of DACA and continued to allow renewal requests. Similarly, on February 13, 2018, a federal judge in New York issued a preliminary injunction preventing the administration from abruptly ending the DACA program. As of June 2019, individuals with DACA or those who have had DACA in the past can continue to renew their benefits on a two-year basis. However, first-time applications are no longer being accepted. 


State Policies that Protect Dreamers

States cannot legalize the status of undocumented immigrants, but they may address collateral issues that stem from being undocumented. Most notably, numerous states have enacted legislation that helps overcome barriers to higher education faced by many undocumented youth. Pursuant to some state laws and policies, undocumented students may be able to attend state universities and qualify for in-state tuition. 

Colleges and universities each have their own policies about admitting undocumented students; some deny them admission while others allow them to attend. Even when undocumented students are allowed to attend college, however, the tuition is often prohibitively expensive. If students cannot prove legal residency in a state, they must pay the much higher out-of-state or international-student tuition rates. Further, undocumented students do not qualify for federal student loans, work study, or other financial assistance. As a result, it is extremely difficult for undocumented students to afford to attend public universities. 

To help undocumented students afford college, at least 19 states have passed laws that provide them with the opportunity to receive in-state tuition. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington permit undocumented students who have attended and graduated from the state’s primary and secondary schools to pay the same college tuition as other state residents. The laws generally require undocumented students to attend a school in the state for a certain number of years and graduate from high school in the state. 

Source: www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org 

https://www.inmigracionyvisas.com/a4234-Dream-Act-and-DACA-in-United-States.html

Cuándo Solicitar Un Pasaporte Estadounidense En Persona

El Departamento de Estado requiere que los ciudadanos estadounidenses tengan un pasaporte para viajes en avión al extranjero. Usted debe presentar una solicitud en persona si: 

• Es la primera vez que solicita un pasaporte estadounidense.
• Es menor 16 años o su pasaporte vigente fue expedido antes de los 16 años.
• No tiene un documento de identificación válido que indique que es ciudadano estadounidense.
• Viaja dentro de 2 semanas o menos.
• Cambió su nombre legal y no tiene prueba jurídica del cambio de nombre.

Para solicitar un pasaporte en persona deberá dirigirse a un centro de solicitud de pasaportes (en inglés) y presentar los siguientes documentos: 

• Formulario DS-11 (en inglés) : puede completar este formulario por internet e imprimirlo, o descargar la solicitud (en inglés) (PDF) para llenarla a mano.
• Prueba de ciudadanía: puede ser un documento vital como la partida de nacimiento, el certificado de ciudadanía, un pasaporte caducado o copia del registro del pasaporte.
• Prueba de identidad: puede ser la licencia de conducir, tarjeta de identificación estatal, militar o del Gobierno federal, certificado de ciudadanía o pasaporte estadounidense vigente o caducado. También puede presentar otros documentos (en inglés) para comprobar su identidad.
• Número de Seguro Social: no es necesario que presente la tarjeta del Seguro Social, sólo deberá ingresar su número de Seguro Social donde se le indique. Si no tiene un número del Seguro Social puede colocar ceros en los espacios.
• Evidencia de cambio de nombre: si cambió de nombre, deberá presentar un comprobante con la evidencia del cambio. Si no tiene un comprobante legal, una persona conocida puede llenar una declaración juramentada, formulario DS-60 (en inglés) (PDF) , que servirá como evidencia del cambio de nombre.
• Fotografía reciente: una foto en color de 2 x 2 pulgadas (5x5 cm).
• Costo de la solicitud del pasaporte: este puede variar dependiendo si solicita un pasaporte por primera vez, si es renovación o si es menor de 16 años.

Pasaportes Para Menores De 16 Años En Estados Unidos

Los menores de edad deberán ser acompañados por sus padres o tutores legales al momento de presentar una solicitud, quienes también deberán proporcionar los siguientes documentos: 

• Comprobante de paternidad: como el acta de nacimiento estadounidense, un Informe Consular de Natalicio en el Extranjero con el nombre de los padres, un certificado de adopción con el nombre de los padres adoptivos o una orden judicial de custodia o tutela del menor.
• Prueba de identidad de los padres o tutores legales: puede ser la licencia de conducir, tarjeta de identificación estatal, militar o del Gobierno federal, certificado de naturalización, certificado de ciudadanía, o pasaporte estadounidense vigente o caducado.
• Permiso paterno: ambos padres deben estar presentes para firmar la solicitud. Si uno de los dos no puede asistir, éste deberá completar el formulario DS-3053 (en inglés) (PDF) . Si únicamente usted tiene la custodia del menor, deberá presentar la prueba legal de custodia única.
  • Si por alguna razón no es posible localizar a uno de los padres, la solicitud de pasaporte se debe acompañar del formulario el DS-5525.. Incluya la mayor cantidad de información y detalles que le sea posible. Puede ser que le pidan más documentación.

A diferencia de los pasaportes renovables y con validez de 10 años para mayores de edad, los pasaportes para menores de edad son válidos por cinco años y no son renovables. 

A continuación compartimos un video que explica cómo se completa la solicitud DS-11 para obtener un pasaporte estadounidense. En el video, puede cambiar sus preferencias para leer los subtítulos en inglés o español.

Fuente: USAGov en Español 

https://www.inmigracionyvisas.com/a4233-solicitar-pasaporte-americano-en-estados-unidos.html

Cap Reached For Additional H-2B Visas For FY 2019

USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the additional maximum 30,000 visas made available for returning workers under the H-2B numerical limit (also called a cap) for fiscal year (FY) 2019.

As previously announced, USCIS began accepting H-2B petitions on May 8 under the temporary final rule increasing the cap by up to 30,000 additional H-2B nonimmigrant visas for returning workers through the end of FY 2019.

USCIS will reject and return any cap-subject petitions received after June 5, together with any accompanying filing fees.

USCIS will continue to accept H-2B petitions that are exempt from the congressionally mandated cap. This includes petitions for:

• Current H-2B workers in the United States petitioning to extend their stay and, if applicable, change the terms of their employment or change their employers
• Fish roe processors, fish roe technicians, and/or supervisors of fish roe processing;
• Workers performing labor or services in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands and/or Guam from Nov. 28, 2009, until Dec. 31, 2029.

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services  
https://www.inmigracionyvisas.com/a4232-Cap-Reached-For-Additional-H2B-Visas.html

USCIS Processing Delays To Be Investigated By Government Accountability Office

Written by Tory Johnson

Applications for permanent residence and other immigration benefits are taking longer than ever to process.U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency responsible for adjudicating these applications, has a backlog at “crisis levels.”

While USCIS processing delays have increasingly been a problem, the backlog is reaching new highs under the Trump administration. 

But for the first time in over a decade, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has agreed to look into the problem. In a letter to members of Congress, the GAO said it plans to begin the study in about five months. 

This could bring important information to light and help correct a problem that needlessly hurts immigrants, their families, and employers with long waits and uncertain futures. 

The GAO announcement comes in the wake of two forceful letters from elected officials. A bipartisan group of senators called on USCIS to account for the lengthy backlog and waiting times that constituents and USCIS customers experience. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other members of Congress wrote a letter to the GAO requesting the investigation, seeking “recommendations on how the agency can best meet its statutory mission of being a service-oriented agency that efficiently processes immigration-related applications and petitions.” 

Such recommendations are sorely needed. The average processing time for all application types is up 46 percent since Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. These increasing delays persist even when fewer new applications are being submitted. 

Although the agency points to naturalization cases to demonstrate an increase in approved applications, this isn’t the full picture. It’s true that USCIS processed 18 percent more naturalization applications in FY 2018 compared to FY 2014, but in that time more applications came in and the backlog grew.

USCIS also significantly increased its fees to cover the costs of application processing. With higher fees and more applicants, USCIS should be adjudicating cases more efficiently—not at the same rate as earlier years when less money was available to them. 

To date, USCIS has not addressed nor taken responsibility for the backlog crisis. And there is evidence that the agency’s own practices and policies contribute to longer processing times. For example, USCIS openly acknowledged that its expanded in-person interview requirement exacerbated these delays. 

The impact of these delays should not be taken lightly. Senators articulated the consequences of the backlog in their letter to USCIS: 

“The delays in employment authorization applications have led to disruptions in American businesses. many of which depend on employees who need work authorization to carry out their functions. When an employee experiences an unexpected processing delay in applying for and renewing employment authorization it can destabilize a business and leave mission-critical roles unfilled.” 

Investigating USCIS inner-workings could shed much-needed light on the impact of policies and practices—whether implemented under the current administration or in years prior. The GAO has the ability to examine and expose any connections between USCIS policies, lengthy processing times, and the growing backlog of applications. 

The investigation may be able to affect positive change. In 2005, the GAO examined the then-backlog at USCIS. The agency implemented all four recommendations from that investigation and concluding report. 

While the GAO is not expected to begin its work until late in the year—and likely won’t issue a report until the second half of 2020—its announcement could spark positive change in the interim. It is also a win for transparency, recognizing the importance of keeping USCIS accountable to its founding mission and oversight from Congress. As the investigation gets underway, it could make important data and documents public, and encourage USCIS to more rigorously consider the implications of recent and possible policy changes. 

Source: www.immigrationimpact.com 

https://www.inmigracionyvisas.com/a4231-USCIS-Processing-Delays-to-be-Investigated-by-GAO.html

Juicio Contra Scott Warren Por Ayudar A Inmigrantes Indocumentados Finaliza Sin Acuerdo

En el estado de Arizona, Estados Unidos, un caso contra un voluntario de ayuda humanitaria que proporcionó comida, agua y refugio a migrantes indocumentados terminó en la nulidad del juicio el martes después de que el jurado no llegara a un acuerdo para emitir un veredicto. 

Scott Warren, de los grupos No Más Muertes y Samaritanos de Ajo, se enfrentaba a hasta 20 años de prisión luego de ser acusado por dos delitos graves por albergar a inmigrantes ilegales y otro por conspiración. 

Durante el juicio, Scott Warren argumentó que sus convicciones le impiden negar la ayuda humanitaria a personas en situación de necesidad y advirtió de que su condena supondría un grave precedente para la ayuda humanitaria en la frontera de Estados Unidos. La defensa enmarcó la actividad de Warren como algo que haría cualquier buen samaritano. 

Ocho miembros del jurado encontraron a Scott Warren no culpable; cuatro dijeron que era culpable. Los fiscales se negaron a comentar si procurarían un nuevo juicio contra Warren. Estas fueron las palabras de Scott Warren hablando con sus partidarios y la prensa después de la audiencia de ayer. 

El activista Scott Warren dijo: “Desde mi arresto en enero de 2018, se recuperaron al menos 88 cuerpos en el corredor de Ajo en el desierto de Arizona. Sabemos que es un número mínimo y que hay muchos más que todavía no se han encontrado. 

¿Cuál es el plan del Gobierno en medio de esta crisis humanitaria? Políticas dirigidas contra los indocumentados, los refugiados y sus familias; juicios para criminalizar la ayuda humanitaria, la amabilidad y la solidaridad; y ahora, donde vivo, la noticia de que construirán un vasto y costoso muro a lo largo de un enorme tramo del ininterrumpido desierto de Sonora, en el sudoeste de Arizona”. 

Ahora la fiscalía debe decidir ahora si pide un nuevo juicio o lo deja estar y retira los cargos. El juez ha convocado a las partes el próximo 2 de julio. 

Estas fueron las declaraciones de Scott Warren fuera del tribunal 

Fuente: www.democracynow.org - YouTube No More Deaths 

https://www.inmigracionyvisas.com/a4230-Juicio-Contra-Scott-Warren-Finaliza-Sin-Acuerdo.html

Hacinamiento y Condiciones Insalubres En Centros De Detención De Inmigrantes

Por: Melissa Cruz www.immigrationimpact.com

El órgano de control interno del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) durante una inspección no anunciada el mes pasado encontró hacinamiento peligroso y condiciones insalubres en una de las instalaciones de procesamiento de la Patrulla Fronteriza en El Paso, Texas. El organismo de control dijo que las condiciones eran tan malas que suponían un riesgo inmediato para la salud y la seguridad, no solo de los detenidos, sino también de los oficiales y agentes del DHS. 

Dentro del informe de la Oficina del Inspector General (OIG) se señala que la instalación tiene una capacidad máxima de 125 personas, pero que ha llegado a albergar hasta 900 personas durante su inspección. Una celda en la instalación, por ejemplo, tenía una capacidad máxima de 12 personas, pero 76 personas fueron obligadas a ingresar a la celda. 

El espacio estaba tan abarrotado que algunas personas, muchas de ellas familias centroamericanas que buscaban asilo, se vieron obligadas a permanecer de pie durante días o semanas. Se supone que las personas deben permanecer en estas instalaciones por un máximo de 72 horas, según la política de la oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de los Estados Unidos, pero la OIG descubrió que muchas de ellas habían permanecido mucho más tiempo, por ejemplo 33 personas estuvieron detenidas durante más de dos semanas. 

El informe de la Oficina del Inspector General (OIG) incluyó otros hallazgos perturbadores: 

• Muchas personas debieron permanecer de pie, incluso paradas en los baños para hacer más espacio debido a esto, el acceso a los baños en sí era muy limitado.
• Las personas permanecían con la misma ropa durante varios días o semanas, tenían que usar ropa sucia, por no contar con el acceso a las duchas.
• La instalación no tenía la capacidad de mantener una higiene básica, y las personas que habían enfermado no siempre estaban separadas de la población general.
• El DHS dijo que las pertenencias personales de los individuos, como las mochilas y las maletas, eran un "riesgo biológico" y las tiraban en contenedores de basura cercanos.

En respuesta a las recomendaciones del informe, el DHS dijo que había construido una carpa que podía albergar hasta 500 personas y que está trabajando para completar otra carpa a fines de julio. Pero la agencia admitió a que "no había identificado un proceso para aliviar los problemas de hacinamiento" en el corto plazo y sino por el contrario el problema se solucionaría en el largo plazo hasta noviembre de 2020. La OIG encontró que esta respuesta era inadecuada, negándose a cerrar su investigación hasta que se presentaran soluciones más inmediatas. 

El informe de la OIG es una prueba más de que el sistema actual en la frontera de los Estados Unidos y México es obsoleto e inadecuado. Estas instalaciones de detención se hicieron originalmente para procesar a hombres solteros adultos, principalmente de México. En su lugar, ahora son usadas para albergar principalmente a familias en buscan asilo que vienen de Centroamérica. 

Los esfuerzos de la administración Trump para frenar dicha migración, a través de la cruel práctica de la separación familiar , obligando a las personas a esperar en el lado mexicano de la frontera , no han ayudado. En cambio, se ignoran las causas fundamentales de la migración, lo que pone en riesgo la seguridad y la salud de las personas vulnerables. 

Ninguna persona debe ser encerrada en una celda de y de pie durante varios días. En lugar de encerrar a las personas en condiciones peligrosas, el gobierno debería concentrarse en procesar a las personas más rápidamente y encontrar formas de liberarlas. 

Fuente: www.immigrationimpact.com 

https://www.inmigracionyvisas.com/a4229-informe-sobre-los-centros-de-detencion-de-inmigrantes.html

Temporary Protected Status: An Overview

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status provided to nationals of certain countries experiencing problems that make it difficult or unsafe for their nationals to be deported there. TPS has been a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of individuals already in the United States when problems in a home country make their departure or deportation untenable. This fact sheet provides an overview of how TPS designations are determined, what benefits TPS confers, and how TPS beneficiaries apply for and regularly renew their status. 


What is Temporary Protected Status? 

Congress created Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the Immigration Act of 1990. It is a temporary immigration status provided to nationals of specifically designated countries that are confronting an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. It provides a work permit and stay of deportation to foreign nationals from those countries who are in the United States at the time the U.S. government makes the designation. 


For what reasons can a country be designated for TPS? 

A country may be designated for TPS for one or more of the following reasons: 

• An ongoing armed conflict, such as a civil war, that poses a serious threat to the personal safety of returning nationals;
• An environmental disaster, such as an earthquake, hurricane, or epidemic, that results in a substantial but temporary disruption of living conditions, and because of which the foreign state is temporarily unable to adequately handle the return of its nationals;
• Extraordinary and temporary conditions in the foreign state that prevent its nationals from returning to the state in safety (unless the U.S. government finds that permitting these nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the U.S. national interest).

Who has the authority to designate a country for TPS? 

The Secretary of Homeland Security has discretion to decide when a country merits a TPS designation. The Secretary must consult with other government agencies prior to deciding to designate a country—or part of a country—for TPS. Although these other agencies are not specified in the statute, these consultations usually involve the Department of State, the National Security Council, and occasionally the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Secretary’s decision as to whether or not to designate a country for TPS is not subject to judicial review, according to immigration law. 


How long are TPS designations? 

A TPS designation can be made for 6, 12, or 18 months at a time. At least 60 days prior to the expiration of TPS, the Secretary must decide whether to extend or terminate a designation based on the conditions in the foreign country. Decisions to begin, extend, or terminate a TPS designation must be published in the Federal Register. If an extension or termination decision is not published at least 60 days in advance of expiration, the designation is automatically extended for six months. The law does not define the term “temporary” or otherwise limit the amount of time for which a country can have a TPS designation. 


Who is eligible for TPS? 

In order to qualify for TPS, an individual must: 

• be a national of the foreign country with a TPS designation (or if stateless, have last habitually resided in a country with a TPS designation);
• be continuously physically present in the United States since the effective date of designation;
• have continuously resided in the United States since a date specified by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
• not be inadmissible to the United States or be barred from asylum for certain criminal or national security-related reasons, such as individuals who have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors.

Nationals of a designated country do not automatically receive TPS, but instead must register during a specific registration period and pay significant fees. In addition, an individual’s immigration status at the time of application for TPS has no effect on one’s eligibility, nor does the previous issuance of an order of removal. 


What does TPS authorize a noncitizen to do? 

An individual who is eligible for TPS must register by submitting an application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If a person demonstrates eligibility and USCIS grants TPS, that person receives a temporary stay of deportation and temporary authorization to work in the United States. TPS beneficiaries are also eligible for advance parole, which provides permission to travel abroad and return to the United States, but they must apply for it separately. Beneficiaries are not eligible for any public assistance by virtue of their TPS status. 


Which countries have TPS? 

As of May 2019, the following 10 countries were designated for TPS and the designation had not expired: 

• *El Salvador (Extended until January 2, 2020)
• *Haiti (Extended until January 2, 2020)
• *Honduras (Termination was scheduled to be effective January 5, 2020, but is on hold)
• *Nepal (Termination was scheduled to be effective June 24, 2019, but is on hold; employment authorization is auto-extended through March 24, 2020)
• *Nicaragua (Extended until January 2, 2020)
• Somalia (Extended until March 17, 2020)
• South Sudan (Extended until November 2, 2020)
• *Sudan (Extended until January 2, 2020)
• Syria (Extended until September 30, 2019)
• Yemen (Extended until March 3, 2020)

*As of May 2019, these TPS designations had been terminated by DHS but will not go into effect until further notice, contingent upon rulings in at least two lawsuits, including: Bhattarai v. Nielsen (Honduras and Nepal) and Ramos v. Nielsen (El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Sudan). 


Which countries have had TPS in the past? 

Since TPS was created, the following countries or parts of countries have had TPS designations that are now terminated: 

• Angola (Expired March 29, 2003)
• Bosnia-Herzegovina (Expired February 10, 2001)
• Burundi (Expired May 2, 2009)
• Guinea (Expired May 21, 2017)
• Guinea-Bissau (Expired September 10, 2000)
• Province of Kosovo (Expired December 8, 2000)
• Kuwait (Expired March 27, 1992)
• Lebanon (Expired April 9, 1993)
• Liberia (Expired May 21, 2017)
• Montserrat (Expired August 27, 2004)
• Rwanda (Expired December 6, 1997)
• Sierra Leone (Expired May 21, 2017)

Does TPS create a path to permanent residence or citizenship? 

TPS does not provide beneficiaries with a separate path to lawful permanent residence (a green card) or citizenship. However, a TPS recipient who otherwise is eligible for permanent residence may apply for that status. 

Generally, a person who entered the United States without inspection is not eligible to apply for permanent residence. As of May 2019, three federal appellate circuits had ruled on this issue: 

• Two federal appellate circuits (the Ninth and Sixth Circuits) ruled that a person with valid TPS status could adjust status to lawful permanent residence if otherwise eligible through a family-based or employment-based petition, even if he or she entered the United States without inspection.
• The Eleventh Circuit ruled that a TPS recipient who entered without inspection is not eligible to adjust to permanent residence.

DHS’ position, applicable in all other circuits, is that a TPS holder is not eligible to adjust status within the United States. In order to gain permanent resident status, a TPS recipient must instead depart the country to have a visa processed at a consular post. For many TPS holders who originally entered the United States without inspection, a departure to have a visa interview would trigger bars to re-entry for up to 10 years. 

Alternatively, some TPS recipients may be eligible to adjust status if they were granted advance permission from USCIS (referred to as advance parole), traveled abroad and were paroled back into the United States. 


What happens to a TPS beneficiary when a TPS designation ends? 

TPS beneficiaries return to the immigration status that the person held prior to receiving TPS, unless that status has expired or the person has successfully acquired a new immigration status. TPS beneficiaries who entered the United States without inspection and who are not eligible for other immigration benefits, for example, would return to being undocumented at the end of a TPS designation and become subject to removal. 


How are “Deferred Enforced Departure” and “Extended Voluntary Departure” related to TPS? 

Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) is very similar to TPS but derives from the President’s foreign policy authority rather than from a specific law. As of May 2019, the only country designated for DED was Liberia, effective until March 30, 2020. 

• There are no explicit criteria for making DED decisions or for determining who would be eligible for DED once a designation is determined.
• Just like TPS holders, DED beneficiaries receive a work permit and stay of deportation; however, they are not permitted to travel abroad.

Extended Voluntary Departure (EVD) was the predecessor to TPS prior to the Immigration Act of 1990. It was a discretionary authority used by the Attorney General (at a time when the Immigration and Naturalization Service was housed in DOJ) to give nationals of certain countries experiencing turbulent country conditions temporary permission to remain in the United States. Congress eliminated EVD with the creation of TPS. 

 

Source: www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org  

https://www.inmigracionyvisas.com/a4228-Temporary-Protected-Status-An-Overview.html

Manifestantes Incendian Fachada De La Embajada De Estados Unidos En Honduras

En Honduras, el pasado viernes 31 de mayo manifestantes incendiaron la fachada de la embajada de Estados Unidos en la capital, Tegucigalpa. No se reportó ningún herido. El incendio se produjo en medio de protestas masivas contra los planes del presidente hondureño Juan Orlando Hernández para privatizar la atención médica, las pensiones y la educación. Esto fue lo que dijo el manifestante y activista Wilfredo Méndez.

Wilfredo Méndez: “Esperamos que los congresistas y senadores demócratas de Estados Unidos puedan presentar este mensaje con fuerza al Gobierno de Donald Trump que apoya a este dictador, Juan Orlando Hernández. Esta es una expresión clara de repudio a un Gobierno de Estados Unidos que apoya una dictadura y da la espalda al pueblo hondureño”.

Por su parte la Embajada de los Estados Unidos emitió el siguiente comunicado:

Los actos de violencia que ocurrieron en la Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Honduras son inaceptables. Estamos trabajando de cerca con las autoridades hondureñas para llevar a los responsables ante la justicia. 

Debido a los daños causados por estos criminales, la Sección Consular debe cancelar todas las citas de visas y servicios rutinarios para ciudadanos estadounidenses, y no puede agendar nuevas citas. Brindaremos servicios a ciudadanos estadounidenses en situaciones de emergencia. 

El gobierno de los Estados Unidos valora nuestra fuerte relación con el Gobierno de Honduras, que ha llevado a logros importantes en el combate contra el narcotráfico y el crimen transnacional, entre otros. Seguiremos colaborando en temas de seguridad, desarrollo económico, fortalecimiento de instituciones y la lucha contra la corrupción.

Reiteramos nuestro llamado a todos los hondureños a que se abstengan de actos de violencia, resuelvan sus diferencias de forma pacífica y trabajen juntos para construir un mejor futuro para todos los ciudadanos de este país. 

Fuente: www.democracynow.org - Embajada De Estados Unidos En Honduras 

https://www.inmigracionyvisas.com/a4227-Incendian-Fachada-De-Embajada-De-Estados-Unidos-En-Honduras.html