Trump's week in review: Cuts TPS status for South Sudan; Nigerian pres. responds to threat over Christian persecution
3. Trump administration ends TPS designation for South Sudan, prompting backlash
In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the termination of temporary protected status for South Sudan effective Jan. 5. TPS allows illegal immigrants from certain countries to remain in the U.S. indefinitely, usually because of natural disasters or exceptionally volatile political conditions.
“After conferring with interagency partners, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined that conditions in South Sudan no longer meet the TPS statutory requirements. The secretary’s decision was based on a USCIS review of the conditions in South Sudan and in consultation with the Department of State,” USCIS added.
The Trump administration urged South Sudanese nationals residing in the U.S. under TPS to self-deport using the CBP Home Mobile App.
World Relief, which previously received millions from the federal government to help resettle refugees, criticized the decision.
“The decision is outrageous, but sadly it is the latest example of a determination that it is safe to deport lawfully-present individuals back to a situation that any objective observer would affirm is an active humanitarian crisis,” said World Relief President and CEO Myal Greene in a statement shared with The Christian Post.
World Relief South Sudan Country Director Lihanda Jairus provided reasons why the country should continue to receive TPS status, specifically citing “severe flooding” in 2020 and that “the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict signed by all parties in 2018 is on the brink of collapse, with widespread violation of the agreement by multiple parties.”
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
