Report
MRS Report: Temporary Protected Status: A Vital Piece of the Central American Protection and Prosperity Puzzle (2017)
MRS Report: Temporary Protected Status: A Vital Piece of the Central American Protection and Prosperity Puzzle, October 2017
A delegation from Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB/MRS) traveled to Honduras and El Salvador from August 13-19, 2017, to examine conditions in both countries related to the possible return of its nationals who are current Temporary Protective Status (TPS) recipients in the United States. The visit was conducted with a view towards gathering information relevant to the U.S. government’s upcoming decision regarding TPS for those two countries.
Most Reverend David O’Connell, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, California and member of the USCCB Committee on Migration (USCCB/ COM) led the delegation in Honduras. The delegation also included staff from USCCB/ MRS: Ashley Feasley, Director of Migration Policy and Public Affairs, Katie Kuennen, Associate Director of Children’s Services, and Matthew Wilch, Refugee Policy Advisor. Most Reverend Joe S. Vásquez, Bishop of Austin, Texas and Chairman of the Committee on Migration as well as Father Juan J. Molina, O.SS.T., Associate Director of the USCCB Office of National Collections and Director of the Collection for the Church in Latin America joined the delegation in El Salvador.
TPS is a temporary, renewable, and statutorily authorized immigration status that provides employment authorization and protection from deportation for designated groups of immigrants from countries experiencing temporary environmental, armed conflict, or other extraordinary conditions. TPS was included in the Immigration Act of 1990 and was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on November 29, 1990.