Some migrants residing in Maryland joined forces Thursday to demand that state and federal authorities help them chart a path to citizenship, after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended Protected Status Tuesday. Temporary (TPS).
The claim coincided with the eleventh anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) at a time when beneficiaries of both programs say they feel in immigration limbo.
“I’m afraid because about two weeks ago I received a migration letter and I tell them (in case) something happens… That’s why we’re here,” said María Isabel Arita, a Honduran migrant.
Some relief has arrived for families in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal thanks to the announcement of the 18-month extension for beneficiaries of the temporary protection status known as TPS.
The new DHS directive extends TPS for El Salvador until March 9, 2025 and for Honduras and Nicaragua until July 2025.
However, activists and defenders of the CASA organization insist that this does not solve the problem.
“We talked about redesigning the TPS and a new one for Guatemala because it has been renewed for those who already have it, but that is not enough,” objected George Escobar, CASA’s head of services.
From the state level, they hope that the voice will reach the White House and Congress with more intensity. Maryland Governor Wes Moore also participated in the event in Langley Park.
In the case of DACA, currently new applications can be submitted but not processed.
Regarding TPS, if you are eligible you should review the registration dates on the DHS website. As far as DACA is concerned, bipartisan lawmakers on Thursday reintroduced a bill in Congress that would give them permanent status, but one that normally gets bogged down in the Senate.
