Biden’s administrator has extended the temporary protection status for Yemenis in the U.S. to Migration News

U.S. officials have cited Yemen’s ongoing war, humanitarian crisis and COVID pandemic as reasons for the 18-month TPS extension.

The Biden administration has expanded a program that allows Yemenis already in the United States to stay in the country without fear of deportation. constant conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is causing an unsafe return.

The new Temporary Protected State (TPS) designation will allow approximately 1,700 Yemenis to maintain their status until March 3, 2023, and approximately 480 more Yemenis can apply, the Department of Homeland Security said. in a statement on Tuesday.

“Yemen continues to worsen the humanitarian and economic conditions that prevent individuals from returning to their homes safely,” said DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Mayorkas cited the armed conflict in Yemen, the lack of access to food, water and health care, and the deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation of the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons for the decision.

Today, @SecMayorkas He announced an 18-month extension and a designation for a temporarily sheltered state in Yemen #TPS. This extension and designation will be in effect from September 4, 2021 to March 3, 2023.

Read more ⬇️https://t.co/vLcrMcXdY2

– Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 6, 2021

The TPS for Yemen was due to end in September. The program does not automatically give them the path to American citizenship, but allows them to work in the U.S. and stay in the country without fear of deportation.

In 2014, the Houthi armed group took control of large parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. The conflict escalated significantly in March 2015 when a military coalition from regional countries – led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – intervened to try to recapture the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The Yemeni war has been described by the United Nations as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with tens of thousands dead, millions displaced and two-thirds of the population of 30 million dependent.

UN Office for the Rights of the Child (UNICEF) he said in a report this week millions of children in Yemen are in need of humanitarian assistance and emergency education. “Children remain the first victims of this dire crisis, as 11.3 million are in need of some form of humanitarian or protective assistance,” he said.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has come under pressure from rights groups and members of his Democratic Party to end Washington’s efforts to lead Yemen’s Saudi Arabia in support of Washington, which has been accused of committing war crimes in these ongoing conflicts along with the Houthis.

In February, Biden he announced U.S. support was given to the Yemeni coalition’s “offensive operations” and disrupted arms sales to Saudi Arabia previously approved by the Trump administration.

A group of influential U.S. lawmakers also asked Biden in May helped raise $ 2.5 billion in support to Yemenis suffering from the humanitarian crisis.

Since taking office, the Biden administration has granted or extended TPS to people in several countries, including Myanmar, El Salvador, Haiti and Venezuela.

The administration’s actions are comparable to those of Donald Trump before Donald Trump, who wanted to eradicate the program – the effort slowed down legal challenges.