White House pauses TPS cancellation for Salvadoran immigrants

The White House has paused the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants. This decision arrived just before the September 9, 2026, deadline that would have stripped many long-term residents of their legal basis to remain in the United States.

The sudden halt reportedly surprised officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as formal termination memorandums were already prepared for publication in the Federal Register.

Economic pressures and diplomatic efforts are cited as primary drivers for the delay. Advocacy groups and employers warned that ending the status would remove thousands of skilled workers from the U.S. labor force. According to a study by FWD.us, roughly 152,000 TPS beneficiaries are part of the American workforce, with significant numbers employed in construction, building maintenance, transportation, manufacturing, and food services.