Press Releases

Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D - Los Angeles) filed an amendment to the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018 that would protect individuals with temporary protected status (TPS). The amendment prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from apprehending, detaining, or removing individuals with TPS should DHS fail to renew the program.

“Failing to renew TPS would not only be irresponsible but would also wreak havoc in immigrant communities,” said Congressman Jimmy Gomez. “Given the unpredictability of the Trump administration on immigration, my amendment would hold DHS accountable should it fail to renew TPS in a timely fashion.”

Between now and March 2018, seven countries—Sudan, South Sudan, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, El Salvador, and Syria—will see their current TPS designations come up for renewal. DHS has legal authority to extend or terminate TPS designations. The last countries to lose their TPS designation were Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

“With the future of TPS unclear, Congress should protect cities with large immigrant communities like Los Angeles,” stated Congressman Jimmy Gomez. “Thousands of lives shouldn’t be turned upside-down so that the Republicans can continue their anti-immigrant agenda.”

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