WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) met with a Nevada youth group of U.S. citizens who are children of temporary protected status (TPS) holders, to listen to their stories and discuss her work in Congress to protect TPS recipients.
“TPS recipients have been a part of our communities for many years and play a vital role in our economy,” said Senator Rosen. “Speaking with TPS youth today gave me additional insight into the needs of immigrant families and their children. These young individuals are the future of our nation, and I remain committed to supporting legislation that will allow their family members who are TPS recipients to have a pathway to legal permanent residency so they may continue building their lives in the country they’ve come to know and love as home.”
BACKGROUND: Nevada is home to 4,175 TPS holders. Currently, there are approximately 420,000 TPS recipients in the United States from ten designated countries including El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Liberians were originally granted TPS, but are currently the only country protected by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).
Earlier this year, Senator Rosen co-sponsored the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act, legislation that would make TPS and DED recipients who qualified under the most recent designation and who have been continuously present in the United States for at least three years eligible to apply for legal permanent residency.
Last Congress, then-Congresswoman Rosen co-sponsored the American Promise Act, legislation to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit eligible TPS or DED recipients to apply for legal permanent resident status if they apply for adjustment within three years, were granted or eligible for TPS or DED status on or before October 1, 2017, and have been continuously physically present in the U.S. for at least three years. According to the Center for American Progress, 4,175 people in Nevada are TPS holders from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti. Approximately, 5,200 U.S.-born children in Nevada have parents from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti who have TPS.
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