DATA & FIGURES
$7.8bn annually in taxes and $262bn to the US economy have been contributed by TPS holders since 2001, according to the advocacy organization Fwd.us. Additionally, the Trump administration's effort to strip TPS protections from hundreds of thousands of immigrants will affect over 400,000 people who have been displaced by civil war and political instability in South Sudan, with more than 400,000 people killed in conflict since gaining independence in 2011.
THE SCENARIO
The Trump administration's effort to end TPS protections for South Sudanese nationals is part of a broader push to restrict immigration and limit the ability of certain groups to remain in the US. The move has been met with criticism from immigrant rights organizations, who argue that it will leave many without legal status and at risk of deportation. The decision also comes as the US government has issued high-level travel warnings for Americans to several countries affected, including South Sudan, Haiti, and Syria.
DIRECT QUOTE
"Every other TPS judge must do the same! Every day these ‘administrative stays’ are in effect is a day the American people are denied what they voted for." — James Percival, DHS General Counsel
BBN INSIGHT
The Positive Side: The Trump administration's effort to end TPS protections for South Sudanese nationals may lead to increased deportations and a reduction in the number of immigrants in the US. However, this move may also have significant negative consequences, including leaving many without legal status and at risk of deportation, and potentially disrupting critical industries that rely on immigrant labor, such as construction, hospitality, and healthcare. The Negative Side: The decision may lead to increased uncertainty and fear among immigrant communities, and may also have significant economic and social costs, including the loss of tax revenue and the disruption of families and communities.