(b) Designations
(1) In general
The Attorney General, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government, may designate any foreign state (or any part of such foreign state) under this subsection only if—
(A) the Attorney General finds that there is an ongoing armed conflict within the state and, due to such conflict, requiring the return of aliens who are nationals of that state to that state (or to the part of the state) would pose a serious threat to their personal safety;
(B)
the Attorney General finds that—
(i) there has been an earthquake, flood, drought, epidemic, or other environmental disaster in the state resulting in a substantial, but temporary, disruption of living conditions in the area affected,
(ii) the foreign state is unable, temporarily, to handle adequately the return to the state of aliens who are nationals of the state, and
(iii) the foreign state officially has requested designation under this subparagraph; or
(C) the Attorney General finds that there exist extraordinary and temporary conditions in the foreign state that prevent aliens who are nationals of the state from returning to the state in safety, unless the Attorney General finds that permitting the aliens to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States.
A designation of a foreign state (or part of such foreign state) under this paragraph shall not become effective unless notice of the designation (including a statement of the findings under this paragraph and the effective date of the designation) is published in the Federal Register. In such notice, the Attorney General shall also state an estimate of the number of nationals of the foreign state designated who are (or within the effective period of the designation are likely to become) eligible for temporary protected status under this section and their immigration status in the United States.
(2) Effective period of designation for foreign states
The designation of a foreign state (or part of such foreign state) under paragraph (1) shall—
(A) take effect upon the date of publication of the designation under such paragraph, or such later date as the Attorney General may specify in the notice published under such paragraph, and
(B) shall remain in effect until the effective date of the termination of the designation under paragraph (3)(B).
For purposes of this section, the initial period of designation of a foreign state (or part thereof) under paragraph (1) is the period, specified by the Attorney General, of not less than 6 months and not more than 18 months.
(3) Periodic review, terminations, and extensions of designations
(A) Periodic review
At least 60 days before end of the initial period of designation, and any extended period of designation, of a foreign state (or part thereof) under this section the Attorney General, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government, shall review the conditions in the foreign state (or part of such foreign state) for which a designation is in effect under this subsection and shall determine whether the conditions for such designation under this subsection continue to be met. The Attorney General shall provide on a timely basis for the publication of notice of each such determination (including the basis for the determination, and, in the case of an affirmative determination, the period of extension of designation under subparagraph (C)) in the Federal Register.
(B) Termination of designation
If the Attorney General determines under subparagraph (A) that a foreign state (or part of such foreign state) no longer continues to meet the conditions for designation under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall terminate the designation by publishing notice in the Federal Register of the determination under this subparagraph (including the basis for the determination). Such termination is effective in accordance with subsection (d)(3), but shall not be effective earlier than 60 days after the date the notice is published or, if later, the expiration of the most recent previous extension under subparagraph (C).
(C) Extension of designation
If the Attorney General does not determine under subparagraph (A) that a foreign state (or part of such foreign state) no longer meets the conditions for designation under paragraph (1), the period of designation of the foreign state is extended for an additional period of 6 months (or, in the discretion of the Attorney General, a period of 12 or 18 months).
(4) Information concerning protected status at time of designations
At the time of a designation of a foreign state under this subsection, the Attorney General shall make available information respecting the temporary protected status made available to aliens who are nationals of such designated foreign state.
(5) Review
(A) Designations
There is no judicial review of any determination of the Attorney General with respect to the designation, or termination or extension of a designation, of a foreign state under this subsection.
(B) Application to individuals
The Attorney General shall establish an administrative procedure for the review of the denial of benefits to aliens under this subsection. Such procedure shall not prevent an alien from asserting protection under this section in removal proceedings if the alien demonstrates that the alien is a national of a state designated under paragraph (1).
(c) Aliens eligible for temporary protected status
(1) In general
(A) Nationals of designated foreign states
Subject to paragraph (3), an alien, who is a national of a state designated under subsection (b)(1) (or in the case of an alien having no nationality, is a person who last habitually resided in such designated state), meets the requirements of this paragraph only if—
(i) the alien has been continuously physically present in the United States since the effective date of the most recent designation of that state;
(ii) the alien has continuously resided in the United States since such date as the Attorney General may designate;
(iii) the alien is admissible as an immigrant, except as otherwise provided under paragraph (2)(A), and is not ineligible for temporary protected status under paragraph (2)(B); and
(iv) to the extent and in a manner which the Attorney General establishes, the alien registers for the temporary protected status under this section during a registration period of not less than 180 days.
(B) Registration fee
The Attorney General may require payment of a reasonable fee as a condition of registering an alien under subparagraph (A)(iv) (including providing an alien with an “employment authorized” endorsement or other appropriate work permit under this section). The amount of any such fee shall not exceed $50. In the case of aliens registered pursuant to a designation under this section made after July 17, 1991, the Attorney General may impose a separate, additional fee for providing an alien with documentation of work authorization. Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, all fees collected under this subparagraph shall be credited to the appropriation to be used in carrying out this section.
(2) Eligibility standards
(A) Waiver of certain grounds for inadmissibility
In the determination of an alien’s admissibility for purposes of subparagraph (A)(iii) of paragraph (1)—
(i) the provisions of paragraphs (5) and (7)(A) of
section 1182(a) of this title shall not apply;
(ii) except as provided in clause (iii), the Attorney General may waive any other provision of
section 1182(a) of this title in the case of individual aliens for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest; but
(iii)
the Attorney General may not waive—
(I) paragraphs (2)(A) and (2)(B) (relating to criminals) of such section,
(II) paragraph (2)(C) of such section (relating to drug offenses), except for so much of such paragraph as relates to a single offense of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana, or
(III) paragraphs (3)(A), (3)(B), (3)(C), and (3)(E) of such section (relating to national security and participation in the Nazi persecutions or those who have engaged in genocide).
(B) Aliens ineligible
An alien shall not be eligible for temporary protected status under this section if the Attorney General finds that—
(i) the alien has been convicted of any felony or 2 or more misdemeanors committed in the United States, or
(ii) the alien is described in
section 1158(b)(2)(A) of this title.
(3) Withdrawal of temporary protected status
The Attorney General shall withdraw temporary protected status granted to an alien under this section if—
(A) the Attorney General finds that the alien was not in fact eligible for such status under this section,
(B) except as provided in paragraph (4) and permitted in subsection (f)(3), the alien has not remained continuously physically present in the United States from the date the alien first was granted temporary protected status under this section, or
(C) the alien fails, without good cause, to register with the Attorney General annually, at the end of each 12-month period after the granting of such status, in a form and manner specified by the Attorney General.
(4) Treatment of brief, casual, and innocent departures and certain other absences
(A) For purposes of paragraphs (1)(A)(i) and (3)(B), an alien shall not be considered to have failed to maintain continuous physical presence in the United States by virtue of brief, casual, and innocent absences from the United States, without regard to whether such absences were authorized by the Attorney General.
(B) For purposes of paragraph (1)(A)(ii), an alien shall not be considered to have failed to maintain continuous residence in the United States by reason of a brief, casual, and innocent absence described in subparagraph (A) or due merely to a brief temporary trip abroad required by emergency or extenuating circumstances outside the control of the alien.
(5) Construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing an alien to apply for admission to, or to be admitted to, the United States in order to apply for temporary protected status under this section.
(6) Confidentiality of information
The Attorney General shall establish procedures to protect the confidentiality of information provided by aliens under this section.
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(5), was in the original, “this Act”, meaning act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, known as the Immigration and Nationality Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1101 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–208, § 308(e)(11), substituted “remove” for “deport”.
Subsec. (a)(3)(B), (C). Pub. L. 104–208, § 308(e)(1)(G), substituted “removal” for “deportation”.
Subsec. (b)(5)(B). Pub. L. 104–208, § 308(e)(1)(G), substituted “removal” for “deportation”.
Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 104–208, § 308(g)(7)(E)(i), substituted “section 1158(b)(2)(A)” for “section 1253(h)(2)”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–208, § 308(g)(8)(A)(i), substituted “section 1229b(a)” for “section 1254(a)”.
Pub. L. 104–208, § 308(e)(11), amended heading.
1994—Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 103–416, § 219(z)(2), made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 102–232, § 304(b)(2). See 1991 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iii)(III). Pub. L. 103–416, § 219(j), substituted “paragraphs” for “Paragraphs” and “and (3)(E)” for “or (3)(E)”.
1991—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–232, § 304(b)(1), inserted parenthetical relating to alien having no nationality.
Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 102–232, § 304(b)(3), inserted parenthetical relating to alien having no nationality.
Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 102–232, § 304(b)(2), as amended by Pub. L. 103–416, § 219(z)(2), inserted provisions requiring separate fee of aliens registered pursuant to designation made after July 17, 1991, and directing that all fees be credited to appropriation to be used to carry out this section.
Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iii)(I). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(l)(5)(A), substituted “paragraphs (2)(A) and (2)(B)” for “paragraphs (9) and (10)”.
Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iii)(III). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(l)(5)(B), amended subcl. (III) generally. Prior to amendment, subcl. (III) read as follows: “paragraphs (3) (relating to security and related grounds).”
1990—Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 101–649, § 603(a)(24)(A), which directed the substitution of “(5) and (7)(A)” for “(14), (20), (21), (25), and (32)”, was executed by making the substitution for “(14), (15), (20), (21), (25), and (32)”, as the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iii)(I). Pub. L. 101–649, § 603(a)(24)(B), which directed the substitution of “Paragraphs (2)(A) and (2)(B)” for “Paragraphs (9) and (10)”, could not be executed because the quoted language differed from the text. See 1991 Amendment note above.
Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iii)(II). Pub. L. 101–649, § 603(a)(24)(C), substituted “(2)(C)” for “(23)” and inserted “or” at end.
Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iii)(III). Pub. L. 101–649, § 603(a)(24)(D), which directed the substitution of “(3) (relating to security and related grounds)” for “(27) and (29) (relating to national security)”, and a period for “; or”, was executed by substituting “(3) (relating to security and related grounds)” for “(27) and (29) of such section (relating to national security)”, and a period for “, or”, as the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iii)(IV). Pub. L. 101–649, § 603(a)(24)(E), struck out subcl. (IV) which referred to par. (33).
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–208 effective, with certain transitional provisions, on the first day of the first month beginning more than 180 days after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 309 of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Amendment by section 219(j) of Pub. L. 103–416 effective as if included in the enactment of the Immigration Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101–649, see section 219(dd) of Pub. L. 103–416, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Pub. L. 103–416, title II, § 219(z), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4318, provided that the amendment made by subsec. (z)(2) of section 219 is effective as if included in the Miscellaneous and Technical Immigration and Naturalization Amendments of 1991, Pub. L. 102–232.
Effective Date of 1991 Amendment
Amendment by section 304(b) of Pub. L. 102–232 effective as if included in the enactment of the Immigration Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101–649, see section 310(1) of Pub. L. 102–232, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Pub. L. 102–232, title III, § 307(l), Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1756, provided that the amendment made by section 307(l) is effective as if included in section 603(a) of the Immigration Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101–649.
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by section 603(a)(24) of Pub. L. 101–649 applicable to individuals entering United States on or after June 1, 1991, see section 601(e)(1) of Pub. L. 101–649, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions
For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.
Limitation on Suspension of Deportation
The Attorney General may not suspend deportation and adjust status under this section of more than 4,000 aliens in any fiscal year, beginning after Sept. 30, 1996, regardless of when aliens applied for such suspension and adjustment, see section 309(c)(7) of Pub. L. 104–208, set out in an Effective Date of 1996 Amendments note under section 1101 of this title.
Aliens Authorized To Travel Abroad Temporarily
Pub. L. 102–232, title III, § 304(c), Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1749, as amended by Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 308(g)(1), (8)(A)(ii), (C), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–622, 3009–624, provided that:
“(1)
In the case of an alien described in paragraph (2) whom the Attorney General authorizes to travel abroad temporarily and who returns to the United States in accordance with such authorization—
“(A)
the alien shall be inspected and admitted in the same immigration status the alien had at the time of departure if—
“(i) in the case of an alien described in paragraph (2)(A), the alien is found not to be excludable on a ground of exclusion referred to in section 301(a)(1) of the Immigration Act of 1990 [
Pub. L. 101–649, set out as a note under
section 1255a of this title], or
“(ii) in the case of an alien described in paragraph (2)(B), the alien is found not to be excludable on a ground of exclusion referred to in section 244(c)(2)(A)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [
8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(A)(iii)]; and
“(B) the alien shall not be considered, by reason of such authorized departure, to have failed to maintain continuous physical presence in the United States for purposes of section 240A(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [
8 U.S.C. 1229b(a)] if the absence meets the requirements of section 240A(b)(2) of such Act.
“(2)
Aliens described in this paragraph are the following:
“(A) Aliens provided benefits under section 301 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (relating to family unity).
“(B) Aliens provided temporary protected status under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, including aliens provided such status under section 303 of the Immigration Act of 1990 [
Pub. L. 101–649, set out below].”
Effect on Executive Order 12711
Pub. L. 101–649, title III, § 302(c), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5036, as amended by Pub. L. 102–232, title III, § 304(a), Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1749; Pub. L. 103–416, title II, § 219(y), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4318; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 308(g)(1), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–622, provided that:
“Notwithstanding subsection (g) of section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act [
8 U.S.C. 1254a(g)] (inserted by the amendment made by subsection (a)), such section shall not supersede or affect Executive Order 12711 (April 11, 1990 [
8 U.S.C. 1101 note], relating to policy implementation with respect to nationals of the People’s Republic of China).”
Special Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans
Pub. L. 101–649, title III, § 303, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5036, as amended by Pub. L. 102–65, § 1, July 2, 1991, 105 Stat. 322; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 308(g)(1), (6)(A), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–622, 3009–623, provided that:
“(a) Designation.—
“(1) In general.— El Salvador is hereby designated under section 244(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)], subject to the provisions of this section.
“(2) Period of designation.— Such designation shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this section [Nov. 29, 1990] and shall remain in effect until the end of the 18-month period beginning January 1, 1991.
“(b) Aliens Eligible.—
“(1) In general.—
In applying section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act [
8 U.S.C. 1254a] pursuant to the designation under this section, subject to section 244(c)(3) of such Act, an alien who is a national of El Salvador meets the requirements of section 244(c)(1) of such Act only if—
“(A) the alien has been continuously physically present in the United States since September 19, 1990;
“(B) the alien is admissible as an immigrant, except as otherwise provided under section 244(c)(2)(A) of such Act, and is not ineligible for temporary protected status under section 244(c)(2)(B) of such Act; and
“(C) in a manner which the Attorney General shall establish, the alien registers for temporary protected status under this section during the registration period beginning January 1, 1991, and ending October 31, 1991.
“(2) Registration fee.— The Attorney General shall require payment of a reasonable fee as a condition of registering an alien under paragraph (1)(C) (including providing an alien with an ‘employment authorized’ endorsement or other appropriate work permit under this section). The amount of the fee shall be sufficient to cover the costs of administration of this section. Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, all such registration fees collected shall be credited to the appropriation to be used in carrying out this section.
“(c) Application of Certain Provisions.—
“(1) In general.— Except as provided in this subsection, the provisions of section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1254a] (including subsection (h) thereof) shall apply to El Salvador (and aliens provided temporary protected status) under this section in the same manner as they apply to a foreign state designated (and aliens provided temporary protected status) under such section.
“(2) Provisions not applicable.— Subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), (c)(1), (c)(4), (d)(3), and (i) of such section 244 shall not apply under this section.
“(3) 6-month period of registration and work authorization.— Notwithstanding section 244(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the work authorization provided under this section shall be effective for periods of 6 months. In applying section 244(c)(3)(C) of such Act under this section, ‘semiannually, at the end of each 6-month period’ shall be substituted for ‘annually, at the end of each 12-month period’ and, notwithstanding section 244(d)(2) of such Act, the period of validity of documentation under this section shall be 6 months.
“(4) Reentry permitted after departure for emergency circumstances.— In applying section 244(f)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act under this section, the Attorney General shall provide for advance parole in the case of an alien provided special temporary protected status under this section if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that emergency and extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the alien requires the alien to depart for a brief, temporary trip abroad.
“(d) Enforcement of Requirement to Depart at Time of Termination of Designation.—
“(1) Show cause order at time of final registration.— At the registration occurring under this section closest to the date of termination of the designation of El Salvador under subsection (a), the Immigration and Naturalization Service shall serve on the alien granted temporary protected status an order to show cause that establishes a date for deportation proceedings which is after the date of such termination of designation. If El Salvador is subsequently designated under section 244(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1254a], the Service shall cancel such orders.
“(2) Sanction for failure to appear.— If an alien is provided an order to show cause under paragraph (1) and fails to appear at such proceedings, except for exceptional circumstances, the alien may be deported in absentia under section 240(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)(5)] (inserted by section 545(a) of this Act) and certain discretionary forms of relief are no longer available to the alien pursuant to such section.”