The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Ethiopia has been designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months on October 21, 2022. According to the release, only Ethiopians already residing in the United States as of October 20, 2022, will be eligible for TPS. This is Ethiopia’s first designation for Temporary Protected Status. The new Ethiopian designation for Temporary Protected Status will go into effect when the DHS publishes the Federal Register notice.
Due to the armed conflict in Ethiopia, Ethiopian nationals are prevented from safely returning to Ethiopia. This also includes and individuals of no nationality who last resided in Ethiopia. In announcing the TPS designation for Ethiopia citizens who are already in the United States, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said:
“The United States recognizes the ongoing armed conflict and the extraordinary and temporary conditions engulfing Ethiopia, and DHS is committed to providing temporary protection to those in need. Ethiopian nationals currently residing in the U.S. who cannot safely return due to conflict-related violence and a humanitarian crisis involving severe food shortages, flooding, drought, and displacement, will be able to remain and work in the United States until conditions in their home country improve.”
Ethiopians who travel to the United States after October 20, 2022, will not be eligible for TPS. TPS applicants must meet all eligibility requirements, including undergoing security and background checks.
Temporary Protected Status grants a work permit and reprieve from deportation to certain people whose countries have experienced natural disasters, armed conflicts or exceptional situations so they can remain temporarily in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants TPS to immigrants in the U.S. who are afraid to return to their home country due to dangerous conditions. These situations can include when they have been victims of abuse, persecution, violence, or other dangerous conditions. Federal immigration law recognizes that some immigrants merit legal relief.
With the addition of Ethiopia, 16 countries currently have TPS designation:
Do you have questions about your immigration status? United States immigration laws are complex and updated frequently. It is vital to have an experienced immigration attorney by your side. Especially when you petition or apply for Temporary Protected Status and other humanitarian defenses and immigration benefits. An experienced immigration attorney at Godoy Law Office can review your immigration eligibility and applications or renewals. We are located in Cook and Dupage Counties, Illinois. Contact our office or call us at 630-912-0322.
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