The expiration of Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador arrives on September 9, marking the potential end of legal protections for nearly 170,000 immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States since 2001. As reported by stateline.org, the Department of Homeland Security has not indicated whether it will renew the designation, leaving recipients in a state of uncertainty just days before the deadline.
The Stakes for Families and Taxpayers
Temporary Protected Status was established by Congress in 1990 and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush as a bipartisan humanitarian measure. The program allows nationals from countries facing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to remain in the U.S. temporarily.
El Salvador received TPS in 2001 following earthquakes that displaced more than one-sixth of its population. Today, approximately 152,000 Salvadoran recipients are part of the American workforce. According to data from FWD.us, these individuals contribute $5.4 billion to the U.S. economy and pay $1.5 billion in taxes annually.
José Palma, coordinator for the National TPS Alliance and a Texas resident who first obtained status in 2001, has renewed his work permit 14 times. For many like him, the program has provided stability and economic integration into their communities.
What Happened
The Trump administration has moved to dismantle TPS designations, arguing that country conditions have improved in several nations previously designated for protection. This summer, the Supreme Court ruled that executive branch decisions to end TPS are not subject to judicial review. Following this ruling, lower courts reversed previous blocks on ending TPS designations.
If El Salvador’s designation ends as scheduled, only 103,000 recipients globally will retain protections: 150 from Lebanon, 1,790 from Sudan, and 101,150 from Ukraine. Before the second Trump administration began, 17 countries participated in the TPS program; now only four remain.
Under current policy, DHS typically announces renewal decisions 60 days prior to expiration. However, no such announcement has been made for El Salvador. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) asked Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to renew protections but received no response.
By The Numbers
September 9: The date TPS for El Salvador is set to expire.
170,000: Rough number of initial Salvadoran recipients in 2001.
60 days: Standard advance notice period for renewal decisions; also the notice period recipients face before potential removal after the Supreme Court ruling.
103,000: Remaining global TPS recipients if El Salvador ends.
Nearly 1 million: Number of people who had humanitarian protections stripped under the Trump administration within two years.
The Broader Picture
The administration’s stance contrasts with State Department assessments. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio granted El Salvador a level 1 safety rating for travel last year, the State Department issued a level 3 advisory in 2024. Travel warnings remain active for some former TPS countries like Haiti.
Critics point to human rights concerns under President Nayib Bukele’s government. The Washington Office on Latin America reports that Bukele has suspended due process rights and carried out mass incarceration of suspected gang members. More than 90,000 Salvadorans have been jailed without due process, with hundreds dying or disappearing in prisons.
Despite these concerns, President Donald Trump has met with Bukele several times at the White House. The administration maintains that improved security conditions justify ending protections.
Congressional efforts to address TPS have stalled. The House passed a bipartisan bill earlier this year to extend TPS for up to 350,000 Haitians, but it remains blocked in the Senate. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) attempted to advance legislation providing a legal pathway to citizenship for TPS immigrants, but Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) blocked the measure.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) noted that many Salvadoran TPS recipients live and work in his Omaha district, highlighting the local economic impact of potential deportations. More than one-quarter of El Salvador’s GDP comes from remittances sent by these workers.
As the September 9 deadline approaches, recipients face the possibility of removal with only 60 days’ notice following the Supreme Court’s decision limiting judicial oversight. The outcome will determine whether nearly 170,000 long-term residents can continue contributing to American communities or face deportation proceedings.