U.S. bishops urge continued immigration protections for Ukrainians, Salvadorans

Catholic bishops warned that uncertainty over immigration protections for Ukrainians and Salvadorans could result in deportations and family disruption if temporary protected status (TPS) lapses.

On Oct. 19, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted an alert saying Ukrainian TPS beneficiaries would continue to retain protections, including employment authorization, pending an announcement “made at the appropriate time.” The agency posted a similar announcement about El Salvador TPS as a Sept. 9 expiration deadline passed.

TPS is an immigration status granted to eligible foreign nationals from designated countries that are deemed unsafe to return to due to ongoing conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

U.S. bishops said with more than 170,000 Salvadorans and about 100,000 Ukrainians estimated to hold TPS, the administration should “carefully consider conditions in countries of origin and the threats to human life that could come with forcibly repatriating people.” The bishops urged the government to provide meaningful notice about the future of the designations so that families, employers, and communities can plan accordingly,…