New York, NY—Today, the Biden administration announced it would extend and re-designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroonians who arrived in the United States before October 5, 2023. They will be eligible for TPS for a period of 18 months, from December 8, 2023, to June 7, 2025. Current TPS Cameroon holders must re-register during the 60-day period from October 10, 2023, through December 9, 2023, to maintain their status and work authorization.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“The ongoing armed conflict, humanitarian catastrophe, political turmoil and displacement in Cameroon persists, inflicting severe hardships on its people and compelling many to abandon their homes without a choice. We commend the Biden administration for extending and re-designating TPS for Cameroon. This will allow 2,090 people to retain their status, and another estimated 7,900 to apply for TPS and obtain work permits. This will create opportunities for Cameroonians to rebuild their lives in the safety and security of the United States, enabling them to lead lives of dignity and self-sufficiency. While we applaud this milestone, we urge leadership in Congress and the White House to take decisive action and establish a permanent pathway to citizenship instead of relying on temporary solutions. Though the Biden administration is implementing relief measures for immigrants, it is crucial that they refrain from continuing further deportations or continuing the construction of the border wall. As we continue to advocate for this, the Biden administration must re-designate TPS for Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Nepal, Haiti, Sudan, and South Sudan, and create new TPS designations for Guatemala, Mauritania, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Senegal, Pakistan, and Nigeria. Regardless of their immigration status, everyone living in danger deserves the opportunity to seek refuge in the United States, and it is our country’s responsibility to respond to those needs."
Context:
Temporary Protected Status is a temporary immigration status granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to individuals who are unable to return home safely due to civil war, natural disaster, or other conditions or circumstances preventing their return to their home country. During the designated TPS period, TPS holders cannot be deported from the United States and cannot be detained by DHS on the basis of their immigration status. TPS holders are eligible for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and for travel authorization.