In early January United States Federal
authorities announced that they were revoking Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for
nearly 200,000 Salvadoran natives who currently live, work, and raise their
families in the U.S. The status was originally
granted by the George W. Bush administration after two devastating earthquakes
hit El Salvador in early 2001 and has been extended repeatedly by both the Bush
and Obama administrations. While much of
the infrastructure that was damaged by the earthquakes has been rebuilt and
repaired, for many the country remains a very dangerous and inhospitable place
in which to live.
In the years since receiving TPS
Salvadorans in our country have worked hard to be productive residents. According to analysis by the Center for Migration Studies, 88 percent of Salvadoran beneficiaries of TPS participate in
the labor force. They are parents to
192,700 American-born children who now face separation either from the parents
they love or from the only friends, culture, and country they have ever
known. And they send several billion
dollars annually to family members still in El Salvador. Ending this support will significantly
increase the suffering of those who depend on it to supplement their meager
living.
