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Provides temporary protection from deportation and creates a path to lawful permanent residence for people who currently have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and are working or training in specified essential occupations. It bars removal of eligible TPS holders and allows them to apply for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status beginning 90 days after the law takes effect.
The bill trades a targeted pathway to permanent residence for TPS holders in specific essential occupations—improving stability for beneficiaries and certain shortage sectors—against exclusion of many other TPS holders, some fiscal costs, and implementation burdens on agencies.
TPS holders working in designated essential occupations can apply for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status starting 90 days after enactment, reducing deportation risk for those beneficiaries and their families.
Workers in health care and other covered essential industries are more likely to remain in their jobs due to a path to stable immigration status, improving retention in shortage sectors.
Household economic stability for families of covered beneficiaries should improve as access to permanent resident rights and continuous work authorization increases incomes and economic security.
Narrow eligibility tied to specific occupations and presence as of enactment will exclude many TPS holders, leaving significant groups and families vulnerable to deportation and economic instability.
Taxpayers may face increased fiscal costs for processing adjustment applications and potential increases in use of public benefits as some beneficiaries transition to permanent resident status.
Employers in non-designated sectors could lose experienced TPS workers to covered industries, potentially worsening shortages for small businesses and employers outside the listed categories.
Introduced March 12, 2026 by Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick · Last progress March 12, 2026