The Trump administration continued its march towards eliminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by announcing the end of TPS for people from Nepal. There are very few citizens of that country living on Long Island, but the announcement is one more indicator that Honduran TPS, up for renewal in a month, may also be on the chopping block.
From the announcement:
The Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen has determined that termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Nepal was required pursuant to the statute. To allow for an orderly transition, she has determined to delay the termination for 12 months. The designation will terminate on June 24, 2019…
To allow for an orderly transition, the effective date of the termination of TPS for Nepal will be delayed 12 months to provide time for individuals with TPS to arrange for their departure or to seek an alternative lawful immigration status in the United States, if eligible. Nepali citizens in the United States who benefited from TPS may still receive other protections under our immigration system for which they are eligible.
The 12 months will also provide time for Nepal to prepare for the return and reintegration of its citizens. During this timeframe, DHS will work with the Department of State and the Government of Nepal to help educate relevant stakeholders and facilitate an orderly transition. In addition to materials posted online, DHS components will participate in outreach activities such as teleconferences, town halls and roundtables to ensure that affected populations have a full and accurate understanding of their rights and obligations.
Nepali citizens with current TPS registrations will be required to re-register for TPS and apply for Employment Authorization Documents in order to legally work in the United States until the termination of Nepal’s TPS designation becomes effective June 24, 2019. Further details about this termination for TPS, including the re-registration period, will appear in a Federal Register notice. Nepali TPS beneficiaries should not submit re-registration applications until the re-registration period is announced through the Federal Register notice.
