Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D – Los Angeles) issued the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last night the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Nicaragua:

“Approximately 2,555 Nicaraguans with TPS designations call the United States home and have deep roots in our community and our society. Unscrupulously terminating TPS for Nicaragua is a despicable action that forces law-abiding immigrant families to make the cruel choice between living life in the shadows or leaving behind their businesses, their homes, and their children. Extending TPS would have been the compassionate and pragmatic choice – but it’s overwhelmingly clear that the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant fervor knows no bounds nor has regard for our nation’s basic humanitarian obligations. Keeping our families and communities whole is the right thing to do. I urge my colleagues in Congress to join me in supporting the passage of the American Promise Act.”

TPS holders from Nicaragua have until January 5, 2019, to leave the country unless they qualify to stay under other provisions of immigration law. TPS designation for Honduras has been renewed until July 2018, with a final decision to come. DHS has not yet made a determination on the designations for El Salvador and Haiti.

On November 1, 2017, Congressman Jimmy Gomez led a letter with 78 colleagues in Congress to urge the White House and DHS to renew TPS for Central America, Haiti, and Syria. Rep. Jimmy Gomez is a co-sponsor of the American Promise Act, legislation that creates a path to permanent, lawful residency for individuals who currently receive TPS and Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED).

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