Leaders, pastors and members of the Fellowship of Pentecostal Entities of the Americas (Cepa) asked this Tuesday the Government of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans, one day before its scheduled end.
A hundred religious from some 21,000 churches spread across 36 states in the country met in Washington to express their support for those who, starting this September 9, will be exposed to deportation.
“We are extremely concerned about the emotional state of our Salvadoran communities, because tomorrow the TPS expires,” the president of Cepa, Ángel Marcial, told the press, insisting that they are all “partners of all those harmed.”
The bishop reiterated that the end of the immigration benefit for more than 170,000 Salvadorans in the United States also affects their families, and especially their children, who were born in the country during the 25 years of the program.
«The Salvadoran community has 150,000 United States citizen children. We are asking that you reconsider stopping the TPS, or that you give more time so that families can prepare,” said Marcial.
Salvadoran pastor William Rodríguez, who came to the US capital representing churches from Southern California, Nevada and Hawaii, warned that the loss of temporary protection means that these people will also lose their work permits. “It represents the possibility of being deported,” he warned.
Jacqueline Fuentes, the daughter of Pastor Marco Fuentes, detained by immigration agents in Indiana on August 17, demanded the release of those who, like her father, have been arrested and that they be returned to their families.
«We are being affected by the decisions to detain (immigrants) and separate families. We are working people. Although my family did not have legal documents, they have paid their taxes and are not being a burden on this country,” highlighted the young American citizen.
In a letter addressed to Trump and members of his Cabinet, members of the Fellowship recalled that “Salvadoran beneficiaries of TPS contribute approximately $5.4 billion annually to the US economy and pay nearly $1.5 billion each year in federal, state and local taxes.”
“We pray that you consider not only what is legally permissible, but also what is humane, compassionate, and in the best interests of our nation,” the letter adds.
Trump returned to power in January 2025 under the promise of mass deportations and the intensification of his tough policies against immigration.
Along with the end of TPS for citizens of El Salvador, the Republican Administration has also ended the benefit of countries such as Haiti, Venezuela and Afghanistan.
“Another situation that worries us a lot is the community of our Haitian brothers who are desperately suffering from this crisis,” insisted the president of Cepa during the press conference.
