“ASPIRE Act,” a new bill that allows every person covered by TPS on January 1st, 2017, to apply for Permanent residency in the United States. When the Trump administration is weighing whether to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS), three members of Congress are preparing legislation that would allow the path of Green Card for the TPS holders.
Republican Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Washington Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal plans to introduce the legislation. In one report, they said that the Temporary Protected Status program was created with bipartisan support to protect human life.
Rep. Yvette Clarke added that it advances American interests and values. We must work in a bipartisan manner to do the right thing and protect hardworking immigrants from being sent back to countries where their physical well-being could be cast into doubt.
What exactly is in the new bill named ASPIRE Act
This newly proposed bill introduced the new form of “protected status” for all TPS recipients residing in the United States for at least five years. Instead of renewing temporary protected status every 18 months, ASPIRE will extend the renewal duration to every six years. However, they would not be eligible for permanent residency if they cannot prove adequate evidence for extreme hardship.
As you might know, Miami Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo also introduced the bill, which would provide permanent residency for TPS recipients from Haiti, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras who arrived in the United States before January 13th of 2011. But the proposal of ASPIRE Act is more expansive than the bill previously introduced by Rep. Carlo Curbelo.
Additionally, ASPIRE Act would also correct the error in existing law that TPS recipients, even though they arrive here illegally, can adjust their status and apply for permanent residency without having to leave the country.
Clarke’s office claimed that the newly proposed bill would attract sufficient Republican support since it does not automatically give recipients a path to the permanent resident. Still, a judge must find that the recipients would face extreme hardship if they return home.
Last week, the Trump administration announced to end up 2,000 Nicaraguans TPS, ending in January 2019. As well as 60,000 Hondurans will get only six months extension of TPS until July 2018 instead of 18 months period.
Department of Homeland Security did not announce any decision regarding Haiti and El Salvador, and it is expected that decision on Haiti must be made by Thanksgiving.
This story has been updated and will continue to update with developments.