Houston Mayor Reacts Harshly To White House Salvadoran Move

HOUSTON, TX — The White House announced Monday it will end the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) program for people from El Salvador. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the termination of the TPS designation for El Salvador was required pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner lashed out at the decision, saying it will directly affect thousands who live in the Bayou City.

To allow for an orderly transition, she has determined to delay the termination for 18 months. The designation will terminate on Sept. 9, 2019.

"Houston is a welcoming city for people from all over the world. There are over 80,000 people from El Salvador who live in Houston, and 19,000 of them will be directly affected by the end of TPS," Turner said. "Many of them own businesses and work in our service industries. They contribute $1.8 billion to the Texas GDP."

Turner released a statement Monday afternoon that said there are more than 20,000 Houston children who are U.S. citizens because they were born in this country thought their parents were here from El Salvador under the TPS. When TPS ends, these families could be torn apart.

"The program was designed to protect people who are vulnerable because of the dangers they face in their homeland. I urge the Trump administration to reconsider its decision and if it does not, I urge Congress to reverse it," Mayor Turner added.

"The White House decision to end the Temporary Protection Status program for people from El Salvador who live in the U.S. goes against our long-cherished values as a welcoming city to everyone who comes here to work hard and contribute to Houston’s vibrant economy."

According to the DHS website regarding the decision, it reads:

"The decision to terminate TPS for El Salvador was made after a review of the disaster-related conditions upon which the country’s original designation was based and an assessment of whether those originating conditions continue to exist as required by statute. Based on careful consideration of available information, including recommendations received as part of an inter-agency consultation process, the Secretary determined that the original conditions caused by the 2001 earthquakes no longer exist. Thus, under the applicable statute, the current TPS designation must be terminated.

"The Department of Homeland Security has conducted extensive outreach to Salvadoran communities throughout the country. This includes, but is not limited to, community forums on TPS, panel discussions with Salvadoran community organizers, stakeholder teleconferences, regular meetings with TPS beneficiaries, news releases to the Salvadoran community, meetings with Salvadoran government officials, meetings at local churches, and listening sessions. The Secretary met recently with the El Salvadorian Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the United States, and spoke with President Sánchez Cerén."

The 18 months will also provide time for El Salvador to prepare for the return and reintegration of its citizens. During this timeframe, DHS will work with the Department of State and the Government of El Salvador to help educate relevant stakeholders and facilitate an orderly transition. In addition to materials posted online, DHS components will participate in outreach activities such as teleconferences, town halls and roundtables to ensure that affected populations have a full and accurate understanding of their rights and obligations.

Top image: Mateo Barrera, 4 originally from El Salvador, whose family members benefit from Temporary Protected Status attend a news conference in Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. The Trump administration said Monday it is ending special protections for Salvadoran immigrants, an action that could force nearly 200,000 to leave the U.S. by September 2019 or face deportation. El Salvador is the fourth country whose citizens have lost Temporary Protected Status under President Donald Trump. Salvadorans have been, by far, the largest beneficiaries of the program, which provides humanitarian relief for foreigners whose countries are hit with natural disasters or other strife. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Secondary Image: Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner speaks at the fourth annual UNICEF Audrey Hepburn® Society Ball on May 24, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images for UNICEF)