Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a life-saving program. TPS was created by Congress if conditions in the country of origin make it unsafe to return. The Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may designate or redesignate a country for TPS if conditions in the country meet requirements around ongoing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

Nicaragua faces extraordinary conditions that make it impossible for Nicaraguans currently in the US to return home safely. These are well known to the US government. The administration's decision not to reparole close to 100,000 Nicaraguans that have arrived under the humanitarian parole program, makes the situation even more dire. Nicaragua is the only CHNV humanitarian parole country that does not have any additional protections, and most will not be able to successfully petition for political asylum. Nicaraguans need temporary international protection and meet all statutory and equity requirements for new TPS designation.

Last year, there were possibilities around the redesignation of TPS for Nicaragua. Even Politico reported favorably, writing that TPS would come soon. Current country conditions, including human rights violations, are not very different from those in Venezuela that warranted initial and new designation since President Biden took office.  We ask the Biden administration to protect Nicaraguans from deportation before it leaves office.