U.S. moves towards expelling 200,000 Salvadorans

[webfact]

U.S. moves towards expelling 200,000 Salvadorans

By Yeganeh Torbati

 

People gather during a news conference at the New York Immigration Coalition following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement to end the Temporary Protection Status for Salvadoran immigrants in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., January 8, 2018. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants allowed to live and work in the United States since 2001 will lose their right to remain in the country in 2019, officials said on Monday, marking the Trump administration's latest move to tighten immigration enforcement.

 

The United States will end the Salvadorans' temporary protected status (TPS) on Sept. 9, 2019, giving them 18 months to leave or seek lawful residency, and for El Salvador to prepare for their return, administration officials said. The status was granted in the wake of two devastating 2001 earthquakes in El Salvador that left hundreds of thousands in the country homeless.

 

The decision to end TPS for Salvadorans is part of the administration's broader push to tighten immigration laws and expel those living in the United States illegally. The move was heavily criticized by immigrant advocates who said it ignored violence in El Salvador and gave the Salvadorans few options but to leave the United States or remain illegally.

 

The Trump administration has faced a series of deadlines over the past year to decide whether to end the protected status of immigrants in the United States whose home countries have been affected by disasters.

 

Salvadorans are by far the largest group under TPS, a programme administration officials said is supposed to provide a temporary haven for victims, not a permanent right to remain in the United States.

 

Critics have complained TPS has allowed participants to repeatedly extend their stays in 6-month to 18-month increments.

 

Patricia Hernandez, 53, arrived in the United States in 2000 and applied for TPS after the 2001 earthquakes. She has lived in North Carolina for 18 years and runs a subcontracting construction business with her Honduran husband. The couple have two U.S.-born teenage sons.

 

"This is a real blow for everyone," said Hernandez by telephone. "Most of us pay taxes, we're not living off the government, we're not criminals."

 

The family will move to Honduras with their children and the couple do not intend to return north, she said, though they worry about violence and political instability in central America.

 

Trump administration changes to the TPS programme mean that over the next two years approximately 250,000 people who previously had permission to live and work in the United States will be subject to deportation if they remain.

 

Haitians and Nicaraguans will lose their protected status in 2019 and Hondurans, the second largest group in the programme, could lose their rights later this year.

 

"The past practice of allowing foreign nationals to remain in the United States long after an initial emergency in their home countries has ended has undermined the integrity of the programme and essentially made the 'temporary' protected status a front operation for backdoor permanent immigration," said Roy Beck, president of NumbersUSA, which favours less immigration overall.

 

VIOLENCE IN EL SALVADOR

 

Advocates of the programme say long-term resident Salvadorans and their children should not be sent back to El Salvador, a country struggling with a weak economy and gang violence that has given it one of the world's highest murder rates.

 

"Our (U.S) government is complicit in breaking up families — nearly 275,000 U.S.-born children have a parent who is a TPS holder — and further destabilising our neighbouring countries," said Oscar Chacon, executive director of Alianza Americas, an immigrant advocacy group.

 

There are approximately 1.35 million Salvadorans of any status living in the United States, according to U.S. Census Bureau data analysed by the Migration Policy Institute, a non-partisan think tank.

 

A senior administration official briefing reporters on the decision said it was based on the status of El Salvador's recovery from the 2001 earthquakes. The country has received millions of dollars in aid and rebuilt schools, homes and hospitals, the official said.

 

In the past two years, the United States has repatriated 39,000 Salvadorans, showing the ability of El Salvador to absorb an influx, the official said.

 

The government of El Salvador said on Monday that it was glad the administration decided to at least leave the programme in place until September 2019.

 

"El Salvador's Foreign Ministry lobbied heavily for the interests of our fellow citizens," the government said in a statement, adding that it would continue to search for alternatives and seek action by the U.S. Congress to protect the migrants.

 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce had urged the government to extend TPS protections for Salvadorans, Haitians and Hondurans, saying "the loss of employment authorization for these populations would adversely impact several key industries," including "construction, food processing, hospitality, and home healthcare services."

 

Congressional Democrats on Monday expressed support for finding a permanent solution to help Salvadorans in the United States. But that will be politically difficult at a time when there are rival immigration priorities, including providing permanent protection for "Dreamers" - undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.

 

That effort has been weighed down by demands from conservatives in Congress to couple any such move with new efforts to clamp down on illegal immigration, especially from Mexico and Central America.

 

(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan in Washington, Mica Rosenberg in New York and Nelson Renteria in San Salvador; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Sue Horton, Andrew Hay and Rosalba O'Brien)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-09

[greatwhitenorth]

First Canada gets the Haitians that have lived in America but are no longer desired. Now 200,000 Salvadorans will apply as refugees.  

 

America allows them to cross at non regulated border crossings into Canada.   Trump the hypocrite 

[jackh]

45 minutes ago, greatwhitenorth said:

First Canada gets the Haitians that have lived in America but are no longer desired. Now 200,000 Salvadorans will apply as refugees.  

 

America allows them to cross at non regulated border crossings into Canada.   Trump the hypocrite 

You can't be serious!  "America allows......."  How and where does America "allow" what Canada does at their border????? Your comment as actually unplugged from reality.

Truth is, the PM of Canada welcomed them all to enter Canada since Trump wants them out. Problem solved for America. It's all good.

The TPS needs exactly what Trump has ordered.....it's death.   Those people need to return to Salvador. They have had 17 years to apply for PR in the USA if they wanted. So there is no need to whine about their businesses, children, homes, etc. If their intend was to never return to Salvador, they should have done it like legal immigrants. Otherwise, they get listed as illegal in 2 years and deported. Trump is nice enough to give them 2 years.

[irwinfc]

6-12 months is temporary. 17 years is just ridiculous. current immigration laws in the US don't make a lot of sense and Trump knows it. 

[Ulic]

17 years to recover from the earthquake. One lady referenced arriving a year before the earthquake.  Honestly, it does seem time for the program to end. That said they will mostly trape up to Canada and claim asylum there. They do not qualify for it but judging from the Haitians that have come half will be granted leave to stay. The half denied will be appealing for another 15 years or so.  Trudeau is an idiot the same as Merkel when it comes to this issue.

[greatwhitenorth]

22 minutes ago, jackh said:

You can't be serious!  "America allows......."  How and where does America "allow" what Canada does at their border????? Your comment as actually unplugged from reality.

Truth is, the PM of Canada welcomed them all to enter Canada since Trump wants them out. Problem solved for America. It's all good.

The TPS needs exactly what Trump has ordered.....it's death.   Those people need to return to Salvador. They have had 17 years to apply for PR in the USA if they wanted. So there is no need to whine about their businesses, children, homes, etc. If their intend was to never return to Salvador, they should have done it like legal immigrants. Otherwise, they get listed as illegal in 2 years and deported. Trump is nice enough to give them 2 years.

 

Problem solved for America. It's all good.

 

well if America's happy the rest of us had best be happy too!  Thank you Mr America for sharing your compassion and world view.

 

 

[faraday]

3 minutes ago, greatwhitenorth said:

 

Problem solved for America. It's all good.

 

well if America's happy the rest of us had best be happy too!  Thank you Mr America for sharing your compassion and world view.

 

 

Yes, it seems that "Humanitarian" doesn't exist in his vocabulary.

[ballpoint]

1 minute ago, faraday said:

Yes, it seems that "Humanitarian" doesn't exist in his vocabulary.

He's a humanitarian in the same way others are vegetarian.  He uses people and chews them up for his own gains.

[ezzra]

Too many "Humanitarian" that want to look good for the next election too many goody two shoe that forgot what law and order is all about like the governor of California who turned his state to a sanctuary state all illegals welcome....

[greatwhitenorth]

1 minute ago, ezzra said:

Too many "Humanitarian" that want to look good for the next election

too many goody two shoe that forgot what law and order is all about

like the governor of California who turned his state to a sanctuary state

all illegals welcome....

just be sure to send them back where they came from.  Living next door to America is like having a neighbour that throws his dog faeces over the fence into my yard every night and then brags about how clean his yard is

[Tchooptip]

1 hour ago, faraday said:

Yes, it seems that "Humanitarian" doesn't exist in his vocabulary.

Humanita-what?

[Baerboxer]

"gave the Salvadorans few options but to leave the United States or remain illegally."

 

I guess applying to remain legally just doesn't seem an option then?

[jackh]

1 hour ago, faraday said:

Yes, it seems that "Humanitarian" doesn't exist in his vocabulary.

What has this have to do with anything? Deny and divert....always the Democrat agenda. This is why they no longer have power.

 

America is based on laws. Respect and abide by those laws or get the hell out. If you don't like the laws, change them! That is your right. But until then, you should (and WILL under Trump) be punished for breaking them. That includes all sanctuary cities and states. Not too hard to understand is it? (even for Democrats)

 

If you are an illegal immigrant, you are a criminal, simple. Duh, and  as such you have no rights to demand anything from the US govt or it's LAW ABIDING citizens. If you are illegal, I pray Trump will deport EACH and EVERY one of you. Their problems were created by their own criminal acts and have nothing to do with my feelings, religion, wealth, or compassion. 

 

I stand firmly on this issue as does my president, Donald Trump.

 

 

[John1012]

2 hours ago, greatwhitenorth said:

 

Problem solved for America. It's all good.

 

well if America's happy the rest of us had best be happy too!  Thank you Mr America for sharing your compassion and world view.

 

 

What are you ranting about....these people were given temporary residence...if they wished to stay they could have  applied for US citizenship....17 years is a long time..they have been given 2 years to apply for citizenship or leave. After having been in the USA for such a long time it should be a breeze for the majority to qualify for US citizenship...it is their choice..

[Coconutman]

4 hours ago, greatwhitenorth said:

First Canada gets the Haitians that have lived in America but are no longer desired. Now 200,000 Salvadorans will apply as refugees.  

 

America allows them to cross at non regulated border crossings into Canada.   Trump the hypocrite 

They cross on their own.  Lets say my apartment had a fire, you let me stay there on a temporary basis and im still there years after the whole time you have been giving me money and supporting me and my family.

 

Now it is time to go 17 years later and you are the bad guy, how is that possible? 

Edited January 9, 2018 by Coconutman

[Scott]

People on Temporary Protective Status do not have the option to apply for a Green Card unless they meet very specific criteria, of which many do not.   For example, they can adjust their status if they have a US citizen relative who is eligible to file a petition on their behalf. 

[mike324]

One of the few things I agree with Trump on! Amazing.

[boomerangutang]

I'm sorry to say, El Salvador is a messed-up place.  I haven't been there, but have been to nearby Belize and met some Salvadoran refugees there, and heard their stories.   ES is the type of place where, if a girl gets to the age of 15 without being raped, that's a unique achievement. 

[greatwhitenorth]

Canada had  14,000+ refugee claimants cross the border illegally from the USA this past year.   American taxi drivers take them to the border, American border Patrol looks at there documents and over the fence they go.

 

  American's are happy to get rid of their "waste" , who gives an F that these 200,000 people have approx. 180,000 American born children or own 60000+ homes.(Fox news, I love the irony).  

 

Is it because the American born children don't look American? or because their name doesn t sound American?  

 

As to standing behind President Trump,  No Sir, you are bent over in front of him.  

 

[mikebike]

@greatwhitenorth - why bitch about reality? If the USA is expelling immigrants why the heck would the USA care where they go? As an immigrant where else are you gonna try to go in North, Central or South America if you are booted out of the States? Mexico? The reality of Canada's geographic proximity and huge, porous boarder makes it the only choice for expelled immigrants.

[blazes]

5 hours ago, Ulic said:

17 years to recover from the earthquake. One lady referenced arriving a year before the earthquake.  Honestly, it does seem time for the program to end. That said they will mostly trape up to Canada and claim asylum there. They do not qualify for it but judging from the Haitians that have come half will be granted leave to stay. The half denied will be appealing for another 15 years or so.  Trudeau is an idiot the same as Merkel when it comes to this issue.

 

Agreed, but your last sentence should simply read: "Trudeau is an idiot."

[German farang]

5 hours ago, Ulic said:

17 years to recover from the earthquake. One lady referenced arriving a year before the earthquake.  Honestly, it does seem time for the program to end. That said they will mostly trape up to Canada and claim asylum there. They do not qualify for it but judging from the Haitians that have come half will be granted leave to stay. The half denied will be appealing for another 15 years or so.  Trudeau is an idiot the same as Merkel when it comes to this issue.

Well, if you would confess that this kinds of "idiots" are just commited high treason on its own  folks, then you choosed the right definition!

Cheers.

[boomerangutang]

The world already has many times more the number of humans than it has the carrying capacity for.

 

It's going to get increasingly saturated.  

 

All sorts of problems ensue when there are too many people.

 

I made a decision, 25 yrs ago, to get a vasectomy.  Tube-tying should be offered as free surgery procedure to every adult in every country.

[blazes]

4 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

The world already has many times more the number of humans than it has the carrying capacity for.

 

It's going to get increasingly saturated.  

 

All sorts of problems ensue when there are too many people.

 

I made a decision, 25 yrs ago, to get a vasectomy.  Tube-tying should be offered as free surgery procedure to every adult in every country.

 

Yes, same here (or #metoo), and I can vouch for how a vasectormy improves one's sex life 100%.

[Scott]

9 hours ago, greatwhitenorth said:

Canada had  14,000+ refugee claimants cross the border illegally from the USA this past year.   American taxi drivers take them to the border, American border Patrol looks at there documents and over the fence they go.

 

  American's are happy to get rid of their "waste" , who gives an F that these 200,000 people have approx. 180,000 American born children or own 60000+ homes.(Fox news, I love the irony).  

 

Is it because the American born children don't look American? or because their name doesn t sound American?  

 

As to standing behind President Trump,  No Sir, you are bent over in front of him.  

 

Those leaving for Canada illegally are not checking in at a border check point.   They are crossing the longest unsecured border in the world.   If they were to try and check in, they would be allowed to leave the country anyway.