A new bill promises a green card for TPS holders in the United States, but the administration will never approve it.
Rep. Sheila Chervilos McCormick of Florida has introduced a new bill, the Respect Essential Workers Act, that would grant green cards to those with temporary protected status in the United States.
This status is intended for people of war-torn countries or countries struck by natural disasters who cannot remain in their country and can request “temporary protection” in the United States. The Donald Trump administration has already revoked this status for citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Myanmar, Ethiopia and Yemen. The withdrawal of the temporary protection regime means that citizens of these countries will now have to return to their countries.
The US Supreme Court on March 16 temporarily blocked the administration’s plans to move forward with the deportation of about 6,000 Syrians and 350,000 Haitians who had received temporary protection.TPS holders cannot apply for a green card directly and must qualify for a green card separately. For example, if they marry a US citizen, if they are sponsored by their employer, etc. It is also easier for a TPS holder who entered the country after inspection to qualify for a green card than for those who enter the United States illegally.
The proposed bill states that there must be a specific period after which TPS holders who can be classified as essential workers can apply for a green card.
“More than 403,000 TPS holders in Florida keep our communities running, working in health care, construction, food supply, and more. Protecting essential workers is the right thing to do for our communities, our economy, and our future,” the Democratic leader said.
Is this possible?
Given the Donald Trump administration’s tough stance on immigration, both legal and illegal, it is extremely impossible for the administration to grant any permanent status to TPS holders. “TPS was designed to be temporary, and this administration is restoring TPS to its original temporary purpose. We are prioritizing our national security interests and putting America first,” the Department of Homeland Security said earlier, explaining why the administration was withdrawing TPS from several countries.
