Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González issued a statement Wednesday expressing support for Salvadoran Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders as the County awaits further guidance from the federal government regarding El Salvador’s designation.
TPS provides eligible nationals of designated countries who are already in the United States with temporary protection from deportation and authorization to work. It does not provide permanent residency or a direct path to U.S. citizenship. El Salvador has been designated for TPS since 2001.
Fani-González said uncertainty surrounding TPS has affected families across Montgomery County, including residents who have lived and worked in the United States for decades.
The statement cited data showing more than 200,000 Salvadorans hold TPS nationwide and more than 150,000 U.S. citizen children have a Salvadoran TPS parent. It also cited Montgomery Planning data showing more than 74,000 Montgomery County residents are of Salvadoran origin, making Salvadorans the County’s largest Latino community.
According to figures cited in the statement, Salvadoran TPS holders contribute an estimated $5.4 billion annually to the U.S. economy and approximately $1.5 billion in federal, state and local taxes. In the Washington metropolitan region, their estimated annual economic contribution is $965 million.
“The uncertainty surrounding TPS is not simply an immigration policy issue, it is a human and economic issue affecting families who have lived, worked and contributed to our communities for decades,” Fani-González said.
Fani-González said Montgomery County remains committed to providing residents with access to information, legal resources and support as the situation develops.
