In a step that has left several pro-activists upset and surprised, the Supreme Court unanimously says that immigrants who entered the United States illegally cannot apply for green cards.
This decision is directed at people who benefit from Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
The United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously that immigrants who entered the country without being inspected by border agents cannot obtain residency, although they can now be legal beneficiaries of TPS, which already gives them relief from deportation.
The decision is a setback for thousands of residents who are temporarily protected from deportation due to unsafe conditions in their countries.
Óscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Américas, said that the final step has to be taken by the federal administration.
The activist said the Biden administration and Congress are still working to give TPS recipients the protection they deserve.
“Immigrant rights organizations across the country are working tirelessly to ensure the permanent protection of immigrant communities. We are disappointed by this decision and will continue to advocate for new TPS designations for Central American citizens from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala, ”he said.
The case before the Court was presented by José Santos Sánchez, a Salvadoran immigrant who entered the United States illegally in 1993, but was later protected by TPS in 2001. However, when he applied for a green card in 2014, he was not deemed eligible.
The Supreme Court ruling means that the decision will stand.
Matt Nelson, CEO of Presente.org, said immigrants, including TPS holders, contribute billions of dollars in taxes to the economy and deserve permanent status.
“Together with Alianza Americas we will continue to request new TPS designations for the nationals of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala,” he said.
There are an estimated 320,000 people living in the United States protected by TPS, according to the Congressional Research Service. The immigrants come from 12 countries: Burma, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The House of Representatives passed legislation that would have made it possible for TPS recipients to obtain permanent residency, but the bill faces fights in the Senate.
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