Discussion Points for Punto Legal- March 14, 2018

1. TPS.

On January 8, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it terminated the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador. This TPS designation was supposed to expire on March 9, 2018. DHS has extended TPS for El Salvador for a final 18-month period (until September 9, 2019). If you are a TPS holder from El Salvador and wish to maintain your status through September 9, 2019, you must reregister.

The re-registration form must be postmarked by March 19, 2018. If you have a work permit as a TPS holder from El Salvador, your current work permit has the expiration date of March 9, 2018. You have automatically been authorized to work for 180 additional days (through September 5, 2018). As long as you apply to re-register your TPS by March 19, 2018, you can work legally through September 5, 2018, even if you do not apply for a new work permit.

If you need proof of the automatic extension, you should print a copy of the Federal Register Notice announcing the TPS extension for El Salvador to your employer. You can get a copy of the federal register notice at: www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-el-salvador.

2. DACA.

We are still looking for a DREAM Act and DACA is in limbo. It seems like Congress has all but given up on a DREAM Act. But, today there is a glimmer of hope. After touring new designs for a border wall, President Trump indicated he was open to cutting a deal to keep DACA alive for three more years in exchange for border wall funding. If this narrow deal happens, it needs to happen within nine days when the Government runs out of money again.

3. Visa Bulletin.

The April 2018 visa bulletin is out. The cut-off date for spouses and children or residents from Mexico is 1 April 2016; last month it was 1 March 2016. The cut-off date for brothers and sisters of citizens from Mexico is 8 December 1997; last month it was 15 November 1997.