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170,000 Salvadorans at Risk as Pressure Mounts on Trump to Extend TPS
Nearly 100 groups and 170 faith leaders urge the Trump administration to extend TPS for El Salvador before the Sept. 9 deadline affecting 170,000 people.
By  Ernesto Iván Vargas Martínez
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TPS para El Salvador enfrenta fecha límite
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Posted on 08/22/26 at 17:30

Nearly 100 immigrant advocacy organizations asked the Government of Donald Trump to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador.

Why it matters: The TPS is set to expire on September 9 and its termination would leave approximately 170,000 Salvadorans without work permits and exposed to deportation.

The call, led by Alianza Américas, is also backed by over 170 religious leaders.

The petition was addressed to Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to extend the protection granted to Salvadorans since 2001.

TPS for El Salvador Faces Deadline

TPS allows people from certain countries to stay and work temporarily in the United States when conditions exist that make it difficult to return safely.

In the case of El Salvador, the protection was granted after the two earthquakes that devastated the Central American country in 2001.

The key date: The current protection for Salvadorans expires on September 9.

Who it affects: Approximately 170,000 immigrants could be left without work authorization and exposed to deportation proceedings.

«Extending TPS is an urgent act of justice and solidarity that can provide immediate relief,» said Dulce Guzmán, director of Alianza Américas.

Organizations Warn of Consequences for 170,000 Salvadorans

Elnora Bassey, policy attorney for Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), also warned about the impact of a potential termination.

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According to Bassey, deporting TPS beneficiaries to El Salvador could have «harmful» long-term consequences for these immigrants.

The petition coincides with another campaign driven by the TPS Alliance, which seeks a more permanent migration solution for those currently dependent on this protection.

Another petition: The TPS Alliance seeks to have beneficiaries obtain permanent residence in the United States.

The process: These immigrants must undergo an FBI check every 18 months to maintain their protection.

Trump Already Tried to End Salvadoran TPS

The organizations’ expectations face a significant precedent: Trump already tried to cancel this protection during his first presidential term.

In January 2018, the Department of Homeland Security ordered the termination of the Salvadoran TPS and gave 18 months to find another migration route or leave the United States.

At that time, approximately 180,000 Salvadorans were protected by the program.

The dispute: Beneficiaries and their US-born children sued the Government, alleging that the decision was based on discriminatory and racist reasons.

The outcome: A court order allowed the TPS to remain in effect.

Trump’s Policy Reduces Expectations of Extension

After returning to the White House, Trump resumed his efforts against different TPS designations, including the elimination of protection for countries like Venezuela and Haiti.

Those decisions also reached the courts, but this time Trump achieved a victory before the Supreme Court.

The precedent: The Supreme Court determined that Trump had the authority to revoke TPS.

What’s next: The organizations are now seeking an extension before the expiration of the Salvadoran protection on September 9.

The proximity of that date increases the pressure on the Government as approximately 170,000 Salvadorans await news on whether they will be able to maintain their migration protection and work authorization.

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