At least 10,000 Montgomery County residents from El Salvador could lose work permits and deportation protections after their TPS extension expired Wednesday, with DHS saying only that it will announce a decision "at the appropriate time."
El Salvador has been covered by TPS since the 2001 earthquakes, and local officials said many affected residents have lived in the county for decades, while Maryland advocates estimate roughly 20,000 Salvadoran TPS holders statewide.
Ama Frimpong of We Are CASA said former TPS holders could face expedited removal without an immigration-court hearing under DHS guidance, urging people to secure key documents and seek other immigration relief quickly.
Jaime Contreras of 32BJ SEIU said 1,000 to 1,500 union members in construction, hospitality, cleaning and home health care could be hit, with some employers at risk of losing up to a quarter of their workforce.
The local alarm follows Trump's broader push to end TPS protections, including for Haitians, and county leaders said the uncertainty underscores the need for Congress to create permanent pathways to citizenship.