Maryland’s Democratic senators hope to secure permanent status for more than 400,000 residents who have come to the United States temporarily.
The project would help those with Temporary Protection Status (TPS) to obtain residency in the United States, ending a cycle in which holders need to apply for renewal of status every six to 18 months. The status was granted to people whose counties of origin have been hit by a natural disaster, civil unrest or other disturbances since 1990.
The legislation comes at a time when TPS holders are fighting a decision by the Trump administration that sought to end status for those in Sudan, Haiti, El Salvador and Nicaragua, many of whom came to the U.S. years earlier. The previous government argued that these countries had already recovered from disasters and disturbances.
“For decades, our country has welcomed and protected those fleeing violence and turmoil around the world,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen
Christopher (Chris) Van HollenDemocrats ready to bypass Republicans in the relief bill COVID-19 Senators present bill to award Officer Goodman the gold medal of Congress Romney asks the Senate to approve sanctions against Putin for Navalny poisoning (D-Md.) Said in a statement.
“Many have lived here legally for over twenty years – and have come to call our country house. But for the past four years, the livelihood of these people has been under constant threat. Now, alongside the Biden Administration, we must prioritize providing security and certainty to TPS recipients. “
The project would provide a path to residence for people from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen who are TPS holders.
The bill, dubbed the SECURE Act, did not move forward when it was introduced last year, but lawmakers hope Biden’s immigration bill will become a vehicle for legislation that will now be passed by a Democratic-led Senate.
Biden advocated an eight-year path to citizenship for 11 million people in the United States
“If it were up to the Democrats, we would have done it a long time ago,” the senator. Ben Cardin
Benjamin (Ben) Louis CardinHouse will have to vote on the budget a second time, while the GOP wins Coronavirus Relief is an initial test of democratic unity Finding common ground to prevent the next pandemic MORE (D-Md.).
“It is difficult to get Republicans to support us because, in most cases, they are a minority within their caucus,” he said of Republican lawmakers who support TPS status.