In Mullin v. Doe, the Supreme Court held that courts cannot review how Temporary Protected Status designations are granted, extended, or ended. The program’s size and lifespan rest entirely with the executive branch — unless Congress acts. I am asking you to act.

TPS was created in 1990 to last months, not decades. Somalia has held its designation since 1991; Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador have held theirs for more than 25 years. Roughly 1.3 million people now hold this “temporary” status, while the government declares their countries too dangerous for deportations yet issues temporary visas to their nationals, who return home safely.

I urge you to support three reforms:

First, require an affirmative vote of Congress for every TPS designation, extension, and re-designation. That decision belongs with the people’s representatives.

Second, limit TPS employment authorization to aliens who would otherwise qualify under our law — protection from removal, not an automatic work permit that pits recipients against struggling American workers.

Third, bar temporary visas to nationals of any country while it holds a TPS designation. If conditions are too dangerous for anyone to return, they are too dangerous to justify new visitor visas.

Americans deserve an immigration system whose words mean what they say. Please make “temporary” mean temporary again.

Greg Raven, Apple Valley, CA

Sent to:
Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff, Jay Obernolte