The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that Salvadorans protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) can remain in the United States while the administration determines the future of their immigration status.

The announcement provides a temporary measure of certainty for Salvadoran TPS beneficiaries as the current designation reaches a critical deadline. DHS said Wednesday that protections for Salvadorans will remain in effect until the department announces its decision on the program.

Approximately 200,000 Salvadorans have lived and worked in the United States under TPS, a protection originally granted following devastating earthquakes in El Salvador in 2001. The program has allowed eligible beneficiaries to remain in the country with employment authorization while the designation has been renewed.

The development places El Salvador at the center of the U.S. Temporary Protected Status debate, as the country remains the only nation in the Americas whose TPS designation is still awaiting a final determination under the current immigration policy landscape.

The decision is particularly significant for Salvadoran families who have spent decades building their lives in the United States. Many TPS beneficiaries have U.S.-born children, established businesses and deep community ties.

For now, DHS’s statement means that Salvadoran TPS holders will not immediately lose their protection while the department reviews the country’s status. The administration is expected to announce its decision at a later date.