U.S. lawmakers push to keep Salvadoran TPS as deadline nears

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans in the United States is set to expire on 9 September 2026 after an 18‑month extension. Approximately 232,000 Salvadoran TPS holders must re‑register between 17 January and 18 March 2025 to retain work permits. The program, in place since the early 1990s, allows beneficiaries to live and work legally while their home country recovers from civil conflict and natural disasters.

Rep. Tom Suozzi has led a press conference and written letters to Homeland Security Secretary Mark Mullin urging a permanent solution, proposing a “parole in place” policy and a two‑year transition if the designation is not renewed. Advocates argue that ending TPS would jeopardize families, disrupt U.S. tax revenues (over $390 million to Social Security and $91 million to Medicare annually) and cut remittance flows that represent about 17 % of El Salvador’s GDP, potentially reducing them by more than $1.2 billion.

Both U.S. and Salvadoran officials highlight the economic interdependence: Salvadoran TPS holders contribute billions to the U.S. economy and send billions in remittances that support households in a dollar‑ized El Salvador. The debate centers on whether an extension, legislative action, or other immigration pathways will secure these benefits beyond the September 2026 deadline.