A coalition of 18 states, led by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, is urging the federal government to review countries with temporary protected status (TPS). The request is directed to Kristi Noem, the nominee for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The attorneys general argue that TPS designations have been extended beyond their intended duration. Currently, 17 countries hold this status, some since the 1990s. For instance, Honduras received TPS in 1998.
“This program has been applied too loosely, allowing noncitizens to live here indefinitely, even after it’s safe for them to return home,” Yost stated. “Congress made these designations temporary for a reason – they were never supposed to last 20-plus years.”
The Department of Homeland Security can grant TPS for six to 18 months during crises like war or natural disasters when countries cannot accept returning citizens. However, the attorneys general assert that TPS was not meant as a pathway to citizenship for those who do not qualify legally.
The coalition's letter highlights how thousands remain eligible for benefits and residency under current policies for over two decades. “Converting TPS into a license for long-term residency frustrates congressional aims and only increases the financial and governmental strain on States,” the letter claims.
It also mentions President Joe Biden's recent extension of TPS designations before leaving office this month. These extensions affect about one million immigrants from El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela until 2026.
The attorneys general call on nominee Noem to expedite reviewing existing TPS designations upon taking office. They cite Congress's requirement that such designations be removed when conditions no longer warrant them.
Attorneys general from Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Texas West Virginia and Wyoming joined Yost in this request.