Today, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced on Twitter a one-year extension (through Jan. 4, 2021) of the wind-down period of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 200,000 El Salvadorians working in the United States. Prior to today’s announcement and as previously reported, TPS status for El Salvador was extended in January 2018 through Sept. 9, 2019. Meanwhile, litigation was filed to block termination of the program.
While publicly reported as a “one-year extension,” USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli attempted to clarify today’s announcement on Twitter:
Today’s announcement does not require Congressional action. Many observers note the recent litigation and country-to-country agreements reached as making today’s announcement possible.