Dem senators' bill would allow migrants with Temporary Protected Status to seek permanent residency
Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin announced Monday the reintroduction of a bill to allow immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to seek legal permanent residency in the U.S. as a part of a renewed effort to grant legal status to large groups of people the Trump administration tried to make eligible for deportation.
TPS designations are made by the secretary of homeland security for nationals of a country experiencing an armed conflict, natural disaster or another types of temporary circumstances that could result in the displacement of segments of the population. Van Hollen and Cardin's bill would make current TPS holders living continuously in the country for three years eligible to apply for permanent legal status. However, the fate of future TPS designees remains unclear.
"It's not the final answer," Cardin said. "It's the immediate answer. It's what we need today for predictability and safety, to know that families will stay together here in the United States. But it is a major part of moving forward with immigration reform."
Last month, Biden's Department of Homeland Security announced it would extend TPS for 6,700 Syrian nationals by 18 months. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last week the administration continues to review Trump-era decisions on TPS.
-ABC News' Quinn Owen





