Published: April 4, 2022
On March 21, 2022, the USCIS agreed to a settlement restoring Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries’ path to permanent residency. Then-acting USCIS Director Ken Cuccinelli, an appointee from the previous administration, once blocked this path through Policy Alert 2019-12.
The Settlement
USCIS, DHS, and the parties of “CARECEN, et al. v. Jaddou, et al.” drew a Stipulation of Settlement and Dismissal. They agreed that the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would exercise its prosecutorial discretion to examine the reopening of eligible TPS beneficiaries’ removal proceedings.
If OPLA finds merit in the TPS beneficiaries’ case, it may move for the dismissal of the removal orders.
The Take-Away
As the USCIS settled the issue, TPS beneficiaries may feel more secure with their immigration status. After all, most TPS beneficiaries stayed in the United States for years but lived in constant fear of deportation due to insufficient statutory protections. Because of the settlement, the said beneficiaries regained the ability to adjust their status to become permanent residents.
In Need of Legal Help?
If you need assistance in processing TPS eligibility or adjustment of status, know that ALG Lawyers is here. We are a Los Angeles immigration law firm composed of well-experienced and highly dedicated attorneys. We can readily respond to your immigration-related concerns.
(Please note that this article does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between our law firm and the reader and is provided for informational purposes only. Information in this article does not apply to all readers. Readers should not rely on this information as legal advice and should seek specific counsel from a qualified attorney based on their individual circumstances. Thank you.)