Feinstein Statement on Protected Status for El Salvadorans

Washington—Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on temporary protected status (TPS) for El Salvadorans: 

“El Salvadoran nationals with temporary protected status have lived, worked and raised children in the United States for nearly two decades. They have established deep roots in their communities. They work hard and their children are citizens.

“Senators Ben Cardin, Chris Van Hollen and I have introduced legislation to provide permanent protection from deportation to individuals with TPS. In light of this decision to eliminate TPS for El Salvadorans, Congress must move it.

“El Salvador has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Trafficking of women and girls is rampant. Gangs target citizens for extortion and security services often fail to protect the innocent. As a country, we shouldn’t force people to return to a violent and deadly environment.

“This decision has an acute effect on California in particular, where more than 55,000 Salvadoran TPS recipients live. Threatening deportation would tear tens of thousands of California families apart.

“California’s senators should have been consulted before this decision was made and were not. This is yet another example of the Trump administration taking an action with significant consequences for California without making any attempt to understand the harm it would cause.”