Earlier this week, the designation for temporary protected status for Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal was terminated.
Heidi Oligmueller, an immigration lawyer, told Siouxland Public Media, TPS is a designation determined by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for certain foreign residents when conditions in their home country temporarily prevent their safe return.
She said people who qualify for TPS are those who have been physically present in the US on the date that their country is designated and are citizens or residents of that country.
They have to meet certain requirements, including having limited to no criminal history and other discretionary factors.
Oligmueller stated countries are designated for a certain period of time; once the designation period comes to an end or is approaching expiration, the secretary of DHS is supposed to reassess the current conditions of that country and provide a 60-day notice period if the country is to be removed.
She said her clients from the countries where TPS was terminated will lose seniority and be in a state of being undocumented due to the loss of their protection and ability to work.
Oligmueller mentioned residents in or near the Siouxland area under TPS are from many countries, including Haiti, Somalia, and Honduras.
According to the USCIS website, as of Friday, Yemen has been removed from TPS, which means their benefits will no longer apply after 60 days of termination.
