MIAMI — Leaders from two Central American nations on Thursday asked Vice President Mike Pence to ensure that their citizens could remain in the United States as part of a work program that temporarily authorizes their residency. Neither the vice president nor Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson, who was also asked, committed to doing so.

The concerns voiced by the Honduran president, Juan Orlando Hernández, and the El Salvadoran vice president, Óscar Ortiz, were prompted by increased deportations under the Trump administration. A forced flood of Central American workers returning to their countries would abruptly curtail the wages they have been sending back home, which are a significant part of the region’s economy.

“These people are working and paying their taxes,” said Mr. Hernández, who said he raised the issue of the temporary program with Mr. Pence.

“We’re going to keep defending them because we know these people are not only Hondurans but they’re human beings,” Mr. Hernández added.