Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) led a group of 34 Members of Congress in urging President Joe Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to extend and redesignate South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), safeguarding the lives of both current TPS holders and South Sudanese who have arrived in the United States since 2016. TPS status for South Sudan is set to expire on May 2, 2022. South Sudan is currently experiencing new and escalating armed conflict, devastation from environmental disasters, and an intensifying humanitarian crisis, all of which qualify South Sudan for an extension and redesignation of TPS.

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last extended TPS for South Sudan in November 2020. Since that time, violence in South Sudan has only increased and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate,” they wrote. “[…] Given the current conditions in South Sudan, we believe that an extension and redesignation of TPS is warranted. The U.S. should strive to provide safe haven to vulnerable populations, and not return individuals to countries where their lives or freedom would be at risk. In particular, redesignation is necessary due to the novel conditions facing South Sudan, including the torrential flooding that has devastated eight of ten South Sudanese states and impacted 600,000 people since October 2021. In fact, since the November 2020 extension, the number of displaced individuals has risen from an estimated 3.9 million to 4.3 million, with children accounting for 63 percent of those refugees.”

“Returning individuals to South Sudan will endanger their personal safety,” Congresswoman Pingree and her colleagues continued. “The Biden administration has stated that championing America’s values and human rights is one of its top priorities. We believe that allowing South Sudanese individuals to stay in the U.S. would demonstrate our commitment to human rights and provide them with the stability and safety they would not experience in South Sudan.”

The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.

Currently, there are 12 countries designated for TPS: Burma (Myanmar), El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. 

Full text of the letter is available here and copied below. 

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Dear President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas,

We are writing you today regarding the urgent need to extend and redesignate South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is set to expire on May 2, 2022. South Sudan is currently experiencing new and escalating armed conflict, devastation from environmental disasters, and an intensifying humanitarian crisis, all of which qualify South Sudan for an extension and redesignation of TPS. Given the current conditions in South Sudan, the maximum protection of an 18-month extension and redesignation is vital to safeguard the lives of both current TPS holders and South Sudanese individuals who have arrived in the United States since

the last redesignation in 2016.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last extended TPS for South Sudan in November 2020. Since that time, violence in South Sudan has only increased and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. In fact, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, expressed concern in December 2021 about localized violence in the Upper Nile, Unity Warrap, Lakes, Jonglei, and Western and Central Equatoria States, “leading to looting, mass displacement, and hundreds of civilians of deaths.” South Sudan is experiencing the third largest refugee crisis after Syria and Afghanistan, and the largest on the African continent. Widespread food insecurity, violence, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and flooding have contributed to internal displacement and sparked increased humanitarian efforts from relief organizations.

Given the current conditions in South Sudan, we believe that an extension and redesignation of TPS is warranted. The U.S. should strive to provide safe haven to vulnerable populations, and not return individuals to countries where their lives or freedom would be at risk. In particular, redesignation is necessary due to the novel conditions facing South Sudan, including the torrential flooding that has devastated eight of ten South Sudanese states and impacted 600,000 people since October 2021. In fact, since the November 2020 extension, the number of displaced individuals has risen from an estimated 3.9 million to 4.3 million, with children accounting for 63 percent of those refugees. 

Returning individuals to South Sudan will endanger their personal safety. The Biden administration has stated that championing America’s values and human rights is one of its top priorities. We believe that allowing South Sudanese individuals to stay in the U.S. would demonstrate our commitment to human rights and provide them with the stability and safety they would not experience in South Sudan. 

We strongly urge you to extend and redesignate South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status. Thank you for your timely consideration, and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Chellie Pingree

Member of Congress