US government extends Temporary Protected Status for Syrians
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrians living in the United States of America (USA) for an additional 18 months.
In a statement released on Friday, the DHS Citizenship and Immigration Services said the extension was granted “due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Syria that prevent individuals from safely returning.”
TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to migrants from eligible nations. It allows those who qualify for the program to obtain work permits and be exempt from deportation.
The status is granted to those from countries that experience extraordinary events, including natural disasters and armed conflict.
“We are committed to protecting Syrian nationals in the United States as the ongoing civil war in Syria persists, leading to continued destruction and despair,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
“Over a decade after the uprising that sparked the war, Syria continues to be mired in conflict, political instability and economic turmoil, all made more acute by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
The extension allows approximately 6,448 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through March 31, 2024, according to the DHS.
The DHS pointed out that other Syrians residing in the US can also apply for the program and estimated that an additional 960 individuals might be eligible, including Syrians without immigration status and individuals without nationality who last resided in Syria.