Legislators call on DHS to extend temporary protective status for people from nations affected by Ebola outbreak

A group of Democratic members of Congress called upon the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday to extend temporary protective status (TPS) for eligible nationals of countries affected by the Ebola virus disease.

U.S. Reps. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), José E. Serrano (D-NY) and Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) drafted a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson requesting an extension of 18 months for TPS protections to eligible nationals from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. An extension of TPS would allow certain individuals to remain in the United States as their home countries continue to respond to and recover from the Ebola virus disease outbreak that has claimed 11,000 lives since 2014.

“As Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone continue to deal with the outbreak of Ebola, they are not yet in a position to receive those foreign nationals currently in the United States,” Payne, Jr., said. “Allowing nationals from Ebola-affected countries to temporarily remain in the United States will not only ease the burdens on West African nations as they recover, it will protect those nationals from the harsh and unsafe conditions that persist in their home countries. Reauthorizing temporary protected status is a humane and necessary measure in addressing the Ebola crisis. I’m proud that my district includes a large West African community, and I will continue to fight to make sure they have the necessary support.”

The letter was cosigned by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and 32 Democratic U.S. House members.

DHS has yet to issue a formal response to the request.