Washington, D.C. – Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District, in a Homeland Security Committee hearing, asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from El Salvador and Honduras.

A video of the exchange is available to download here. The transcript is below. 

Rep. Titus: Speaking of my district, I would also ask you about Temporary Protected Status. I have a large population from El Salvador in my district and folks from there and Honduras especially are concerned because they are just on hold. They don’t know when that may be extended, what the courts might do, what your department’s position is. Can you address that a little bit? Because they can’t go home whether it’s a natural disaster or an armed conflict or something. And many of them have been here for a long time and their families have grown up here so could you tell us kind of what you’re thinking about a timeline for a decision on TPS?

Secretary Mayorkas: Congresswoman I appreciate the question a great deal. We’re very closely and intensely studying the country conditions in El Salvador and Honduras and other countries to determine the status of Temporary Protected Status, TPS, for those communities. We’re working as quickly as we can and appreciate the sensitivity and the humanity underlying your question. 

Rep. Titus: Well thank you, if I can work with you in any way, I’d appreciate that so I can reassure those folks that we have their best interest in mind.