Provide time, order and mercy for Salvadoran TPS holders

I write as a proud U.S. citizen, but also as someone who has experienced firsthand the trauma and uncertainty of being an immigrant and, later, the relief and opportunity afforded by Temporary Protected Status before I obtained permanent residency.

I came to the U.S. as a young man, fleeing the civil war in El Salvador and seeking safety and the opportunity for a better life. Through the Temporary Protected Status program, I received authorization to work and was able to remain legally in the U.S. That work permit allowed me to hold different jobs, support myself, and pay taxes. I worked mostly in the construction and the janitorial industries — jobs which gave me a profound sense of dignity. They allowed me not only to earn an honest living, but also to know that, through my work, service, and taxes, I was contributing to the country that had opened its doors to me.

In time, other doors opened. I entered formation for the priesthood and was ordained in 2004. In 2023, I was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Washington, and since Jul. 2, I have had the privilege of serving as Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which encompasses the entire state of West Virginia.

I share these details because my experience has taught me what legal status and the opportunity to work can mean in the life of an immigrant. What the Salvadoran community in the U.S. is facing today, with an uncertain future, could have been my story.

I understand both the love that immigrants can have for this nation and the personal struggles of Salvadoran families living in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status. As a priest and bishop, I have walked with this community for many years. And in recent months, I have witnessed their fear, anxiety and uncertainty about their future that I have not seen in many years: the fear that decades of lawful life in this country may end not gradually, but suddenly.

Salvadorans are among the most deeply rooted Temporary Protected Status holders in the U.S. Over the years, they have built careers, purchased homes, started businesses, raised families, and contributed to the communities in which they live. Many are parents of U.S. citizen children.

Ending their status abruptly would therefore affect far more than the holders themselves. It would affect American families, workplaces, parishes, neighborhoods, and local economies. Industries such as construction, hospitality, agriculture, nursing, childcare, and elder care could lose hardworking men and women on whom they have relied for many years.

I do not write as a political actor, nor do I dispute the right and responsibility of this nation to order its borders and enforce its laws. That right is not in question, and the Church has never taught otherwise. I write as a bishop who has walked with this particular community and who asks the administration, with the respect due its office, to grant an extension of Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans so that they — and the families and employers that depend upon them — have sufficient time to pursue other lawful alternatives and prepare responsibly for what may come.

I understand that Temporary Protected Status was never intended to become a permanent immigration status. Yet for many Salvadorans, it has remained a lifeline for decades. During that time, these men and women and their families have been woven into the fabric of this country.

I ask, therefore, for time: an extended period of transition for Salvadorans before any change of status takes effect. Such a transition would allow families to prepare rather than face sudden separation or removal. It would give employers time to adjust without unnecessary disruption. It would also give El Salvador, my country of birth, time to prepare responsibly to receive those who may eventually return.

El Salvador has made significant progress in recent years, particularly in improving public safety. That progress should be acknowledged and encouraged. At the same time, receiving large numbers of people presently employed and established in the U.S. would present serious economic and social challenges.

Salvadorans working in this country contribute to the U.S. economy through their labor and taxes, often while also supporting families and communities in El Salvador through remittances.

Most importantly, additional time would allow Congress the opportunity to do what ultimately only Congress can: consider and enact a permanent, lawful solution for people who have lived, worked, paid taxes, raised families, and contributed to this nation for decades.

I respectfully urge an extension of Temporary Protected Status and a compassionate, orderly transition for the sons and daughters of El Salvador.

Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, a native of El Salvador, is the tenth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which covers the state of West Virginia.

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