US extends protected status for El Salvador immigrants by one year

US Ambassador to El Salvador Ronald Johnson said in a video statement with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on October 28 that the US government has extended temporary protection for Salvadorans living in the United States by an extra year. The move is a possible sign of easing tensions over migration in the US. After two back to back earthquakes in 2001 in El Salvador killed 8,000 people and left thousands homeless, Temporary Protected Status was granted to the citizens of the country. The status basically provides protection from deportation to immigrants who already are in the US, from countries affected by natural disasters, civil conflicts, and other problems.

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Trump administration stands against immigration

Earlier US President Donald Trump disapproved of special status provided to immigrants from a number of countries including El Salvador. Trump administration so stands firmly against immigration and has made it challenging to provide asylum or temporary protection in the US. The USA has struggled to contain a growing flow of migrants, mostly Central Americans fleeing gang violence, political persecution and extreme poverty who mostly enter the country from the Southern Mexican border. Over 810,000 people were detained at US borders this year, officials said. 

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El Salvador President requested Trump to continue TPS

El Salvador has argued that it is still not ready to take back its citizens due to lack of security and services like education. The country has one of the world's highest homicide rates, gang violence, and limited employment opportunities which led to immigration. The country's President Bukele had called on Trump to continue TPS. As per reports, there were over 263,000 TPS beneficiaries from El Salvador until October 2018.

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(With inputs from agencies)