Due to ongoing violence in Syria, Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that DHS will provide Temporary Protective Status for Syrians currently in the United States. According to the L.A. Times, “more than 10,000 people have died in the yearlong conflict, including civilians, armed dissidents and security forces, according to U.N. and Syrian government figures.”
TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to individuals residing in the United States who are, in the short-term, unable to safely return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. The Syrian government has been trying to suppress anti-government protests calling for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad and his Ba’ath Party since the beginning of last year. Despite U.N peace efforts, the violence continues to escalate.
According to Secretary Napolitano:
“Conditions in Syria have worsened to the point where Syrian nationals already in the United States would face serious threats to their personal safety if they were to return to their home country. Early next week, the Department will publish a notice in the Federal Register that will provide further guidance about TPS eligibility requirements and registration procedures. All applicants must undergo full background checks and while Syrians in the United States are encouraged to apply, they should not submit their applications before the notice is published.”
