Illusional Stability: Temporary Protected Status in the Context of U.S. Refugee and Asylum Policy

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is granted in the United States to individuals from countries undergoing armed conflicts, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. TPS holders may obtain employment authorization but the status does not come with any specific pathway to permanent residency and may be revoked by the Department of Homeland Security. Asylum status may be granted to individuals in the United States who can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Asylees are eligible to adjust to permanent resident status after one year. This thesis provides legal, ethical and practical arguments for expanding the categories of asylum to include the conditions covered by TPS, which in turn would provide a pathway to permanent residency to TPS holders. This policy would have legal, economic, political, and social benefits both to the U.S. and to countries of origin of TPS holders.