Salvadoran TPS holders retain protection, including work authorization, until USCIS makes a formal announcement despite the September 9, 2026 expiration.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allows eligible nationals of designated countries to remain in the United States and obtain work authorization when conditions in their home country prevent safe return. The prior extension for El Salvador ran through September 9, 2026, following a January 2025 Federal Register notice. USCIS posted an alert stating that an announcement would be made at the appropriate time and that holders keep their protections until then.
No Federal Register notice terminating or extending the designation was published 60 days prior as required by statute. This situation affects approximately 170,000 Salvadoran nationals who have resided continuously in the U.S. since February or March 2001 and who re-registered during the 2025 period. Their employers are also impacted regarding work authorization verification. TPS for El Salvador was originally designated on March 9, 2001, due to environmental disasters.
Readers should monitor the USCIS website for updates on El Salvador TPS and consult an immigration attorney for individual guidance on their status. Employers should continue to verify work authorization as usual while protections remain in place.