For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON— Today, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced her determination that an extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Syria was warranted pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act. After carefully reviewing conditions in Syria with interagency partners, Secretary Nielsen determined that the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary conditions that support Syria’s designation for TPS continue to exist. Therefore, pursuant to the statute she has extended Syria’s TPS designation for 18 months.

“After carefully considering conditions on the ground, I have determined that it is necessary to extend the Temporary Protected Status designation for Syria,” said Secretary Nielsen. “It is clear that the conditions upon which Syria’s designation was based continue to exist, therefore an extension is warranted under the statute. We will continue to determine each country’s TPS status on a country-by-country basis.”

Syrians with TPS status will be eligible to re-register for an extension of their status for 18 months, through September 30, 2019. Prior to the conclusion of the 18 month extension, the Secretary will review conditions in Syria to determine whether its TPS designation should be extended again or terminated.

The decision to extend TPS for Syria was made after a review of the conditions upon which the country’s designation is based, which was ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions, as well as an assessment of whether those conditions continue to exist as required by statute. Following careful consideration of available information, including recommendations received as part of an inter-agency consultation process, the Secretary determined that the conditions supporting Syria’s designation for TPS continue to exist. Thus, under the applicable statute, the current TPS designation must be extended.

There are approximately 7,000 Syrian TPS beneficiaries. This 18-month extension of Syria’s designation for TPS permits current Syrian TPS beneficiaries to re-register for TPS and remain in the United States with work authorization through September 30, 2019. To be eligible for TPS under Syria’s current designation, along with meeting the other eligibility requirements, individuals must have continuously resided in the United States since August 1, 2016, and have been continuously physically present in the United States since October 1, 2016. Anyone who has been here since the time of the previous designation may be eligible to seek other forms of immigration relief.

Further details about this extension for TPS, including information about the re-registration process and employment authorization documents, will appear in a Federal Register notice.

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