Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has introduced a new bill, the Respect for Essential Workers Act, which could ease the citizenship pathway for hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the US on borrowed time.
The bill would give people living under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) a chance to obtain a Green Card. TPS allows people from countries facing wars, natural disasters, or other serious crises to live and work in the US temporarily.
However, the Trump administration has already revoked TPS for nationals of 13 countries, affecting tens of thousands of migrants. The US Supreme Court temporarily blocked plans to deport around 6,000 Syrians and 350,000 Haitians who had been granted TPS.
Cherfilus-McCormick highlighted the importance of TPS holders, saying they keep communities running and working in various sectors, including healthcare and construction.
The situation is complex, with different paths and timelines for TPS holders and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) recipients. While the Respect for Essential Workers Act offers hope for TPS holders, SIJS recipients face stricter enforcement and deportation.
According to government data, ICE detained 265 SIJS recipients and deported 132 of them last year, disrupting their stability and pathway to permanent protection.
