The Department of Homeland Security has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Syria who qualify for the program.

Key points:

  • Temporary Protected Status for Syria will be extended 18 months through Sept. 30, 2019.
  • Additional information about the extension, including information about the TPS re-registration process, is expected soon and will be published in the Federal Register.

Background: The U.S. first designated Syria for TPS in 2012 and the designation was most recently extended on Aug. 1, 2016. There are about 7,000 Syrian TPS beneficiaries in the U.S. at this time. In a statement, DHS said that the armed conflict in Syria and “extraordinary conditions” that support Syria’s TPS designation are ongoing, thus supporting the 18-month extension. DHS will review conditions in Syria at some point before Sept. 30, 2019 to determine whether TPS should be extended again.

BAL Analysis: The Trump administration has moved to end TPS designation for a number of countries, including El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan. The decision to extend TPS for Syrians reflects DHS’s conclusion that Syria remains extremely dangerous at this time. BAL will provide details about re-registration processes once they become available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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