Trump administration allows Salvadoran TPS to continue, for now

Overview

Updated Yesterday

Roughly 200,000 Salvadorans living in the US under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) kept their legal protections when the program's designation expired September 9. But their work permits expired the same day, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not said whether the program will continue or end.

DHS took no action to terminate Salvadoran TPS. That departs from its record in Trump's second term, when it ended the program for more than a million people across 13 countries including Haiti, Venezuela, and Syria. Federal rules state that if the secretary takes no action on a TPS designation, the status automatically extends for six months.

TPS was granted to El Salvador in 2001 after earthquakes devastated the country. Salvadorans have held the protection for 25 years. The Supreme Court ruled in June that the president has broad power to end the program, which means the administration faces no legal obstacle if it chooses termination.

Why it matters

Roughly 200,000 Salvadorans who have lived in the US for 25 years could lose legal status and work authorization with one DHS announcement.

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Key Indicators

200,000

Salvadorans under TPS

Approximate number of people from El Salvador currently holding Temporary Protected Status in the US.

Countries with TPS ended in Trump's second term

The administration terminated TPS for more than 1 million people from Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Syria, and others.

$5.4B

Annual economic contribution

Salvadoran TPS holders contribute an estimated $5.4 billion to the US economy each year, paying about $1.5 billion in federal and state taxes.

150,000

American children of Salvadoran TPS holders

Over the past 25 years, Salvadoran TPS holders have given birth to approximately 150,000 children who are US citizens.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

People Involved

Jose Palma

National coordinator, National TPS Alliance

TPS recipient awaiting DHS decision

Francisco Semiao

Chairman, National Salvadoran American Association

Lobbying for 18-month extension

Julie Mitchell

Immigration attorney, Central American Resource Center

Warns work permits have expired for TPS holders

Organizations Involved

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Federal Agency

Holds the decision on Salvadoran TPS

Federal agency that administers the Temporary Protected Status program.

National TPS Alliance

Advocacy Group

Pushing for permanent residency pathway

Immigrant advocacy organization representing holders of Temporary Protected Status.

Timeline

March 2001 September 2026

7 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
Administration allows TPS to continue for Salvadorans, for now
Latest Policy

Reports confirm the administration declined to terminate Salvadoran TPS, but has not committed to extending it beyond the automatic six-month period.
Yesterday
DHS says protections remain, decision pending
Statement

DHS announced it would decide on Salvadoran TPS 'at the appropriate time' and that protections stay in effect until then.
2 days ago
Salvadoran TPS designation expires
Policy

The TPS designation for El Salvador lapsed. DHS took no action to terminate or extend it, triggering an automatic six-month extension under federal rules.
3 days ago
Work permits for Salvadoran TPS holders expire
Legal

Employment authorization documents lapsed even though legal protections remained, leaving many unable to work legally.
3 days ago
June 2026
Supreme Court rules president can end TPS
Court Decision

Court upheld Trump administration's termination of TPS for ~350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians, giving the president broad power over the program.
June 1st, 2026
May 2026
Lebanon TPS auto-extends by six months
Policy

DHS inaction automatically extended protections for about 11,000 Lebanese, setting precedent for the Salvadoran case.
May 1st, 2026
March 2001
TPS granted to El Salvador after earthquakes
Policy

The designation was granted after earthquakes devastated the country, allowing Salvadorans to stay and work in the US.
March 1st, 2001

Scenarios

DHS terminates Salvadoran TPS with wind-down period

Likely Resolves by Mar 9, 2027

Discussed by: The administration's track record: it has ended TPS for 13 other countries including Haiti, Venezuela, and Syria. The Supreme Court's June ruling removed legal obstacles.

DHS determines conditions in El Salvador have improved enough for safe return and publishes a termination notice with a wind-down period. The June Supreme Court ruling means the administration faces no judicial barrier. TPS holders would need to leave or adjust status within the wind-down window, likely 60 days to 18 months depending on the announcement.

DHS extends Salvadoran TPS for another 18 months

Possible Resolves by Mar 9, 2027

Discussed by: National Salvadoran American Association, which is lobbying Republicans for a short-term humanitarian extension.

DHS determines El Salvador remains unsafe due to natural disaster conditions or other factors and extends the designation, triggering re-registration for TPS holders. The National Salvadoran American Association has proposed an 18-month extension to give families time to plan. This would postpone termination beyond the November 2026 midterm elections.

Congress passes legislation creating a TPS pathway to permanent residency

Unlikely Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: National TPS Alliance, which says existing bills in Congress would provide a route to permanent residency for TPS holders.

A bill granting Salvadoran TPS holders a path to permanent residency or a longer statutory extension passes both chambers and is signed into law. This would require bipartisan agreement in a closely divided Congress. The National TPS Alliance has been pushing such legislation, arguing that TPS holders have lived in the US for decades and have no alternative legal route to citizenship.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

January 2018

First Trump administration attempts to end Salvadoran TPS (2018)

In January 2018, the first Trump administration announced it would terminate TPS for El Salvador, affecting about 200,000 people who had lived in the US since 2001. The decision cited improvements in El Salvador following the 2001 earthquakes.

Then

Lawsuits blocked the termination. Courts issued injunctions that kept Salvadoran TPS in place through the rest of Trump's first term and the Biden administration.

Now

The legal fight demonstrated that courts could restrain TPS terminations. That changed in June 2026, when the Supreme Court ruled the president has broad power to end the program.

Why this matters now

The 2018 attempt shows the administration has wanted to end Salvadoran TPS for years. The 2026 Supreme Court ruling removes the judicial obstacle that stopped it the first time.

June 2026

Haiti TPS termination upheld by Supreme Court (2026)

The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration acted within its authority by ending TPS for about 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians. The 6-3 decision gave the president virtually unrestrained power over the program.

Then

The ruling cleared the way for the administration to proceed with terminations for the 13 countries it had already targeted, and made future terminations legally easier.

Now

The decision affects nearly 1.3 million people from 17 countries on TPS, including El Salvador, making the current decision purely a policy choice rather than a legal question.

Why this matters now

The Haiti ruling is the legal backdrop for the Salvadoran case. DHS faces no court barrier if it chooses to terminate Salvadoran TPS, making its inaction a policy signal rather than a legal necessity.