On Monday July, 19 Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced an 18-month extension and re-designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status, or TPS. Somalia has not been re-designated for TPS since 2012.
Secretary Mayorkas made the decision to extend and re-designate Somalia for TPS after taking into consideration extraordinary and temporary conditions in Somalia including—ongoing armed conflict, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic—that have worsened the humanitarian crisis in the country.
The extension of TPS allows for more than 400 current beneficiaries to retain TPS, as long as individuals meet TPS eligibility requirements. The re-designation of Somalia for TPS allows for an estimated 100 additional Somali nationals who have been continuously residing in the United States since July 19, 2021 to file initial applications to obtain TPS, as long as they are able to meet TPS eligibility requirements.
Immigrant Legal Center encourages Somali nationals considering applying for TPS to consult with a qualified immigration attorney. If this news impacts you, consider calling the Nebraska Immigration Legal Assistance Hotline (NILAH). NILAH offers free, confidential screenings, for consultations and referrals call 1-855-307-6730 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. CST, press 9 to leave a voicemail.
