With TPS About to Expire, US Border Czar Says El Salvador Is 'Safer'

U.S. border czar Tom Homan said El Salvador is “much safer than ever” under President Nayib Bukele, speaking one day before temporary protected status for more than 170,000 Salvadorans is due to expire.

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Much safer than ever, now with that president they have over there.

“TPS, temporary protected status, means that it is something temporary,” Homan told reporters outside the White House. He said El Salvador had become safer under its current president and argued that the designation had repeatedly been renewed despite its temporary nature and changing conditions in the country of origin.

“I have been doing this for more than 40 years, and TPS has never stopped being renewed, again and again, even though it is supposed to be temporary status and conditions in the country change,” Homan said. “I am glad that they are finally adhering to what the law says: temporary means temporary.”

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TPS, temporary protected status, means that it is something temporary.

The TPS designation for Salvadoran citizens expires on Wednesday, September 9. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has said the status and related benefits are expected to end that day. That would remove protection from deportation for thousands of Salvadorans in the United States and end work authorization based solely on TPS.

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I am glad that they are finally adhering to what the law says: temporary means temporary.

Homan declined to confirm whether the protection would actually expire or be extended. “If it expires, the decision is in the hands of the secretary,” he said, referring to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “And if they have decided to extend it, I am not aware of it.”

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If it expires, the decision is in the hands of the secretary.