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A supporter amongst a coalition of community leaders and immigrant advocates demonstrate outside U.S. immigration offices, calling on federal authorities to designate Ecuador for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for its nationals in the aftermath of last April’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake, Wednesday June 1, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

By MATTHEW LEE and JOSH LEDERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — “The Trump administration is expected to let nearly 7,000 Syrians remain in the United States for another 18 months but won’t let more Syrian citizens apply for the special protection program, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Under a humanitarian program known as ‘Temporary Protected Status,’ thousands of Syrians have been allowed to avoid returning to their war-wracked country of origin, but the current program is set to expire on March 31. Two U.S. officials said the Homeland Security Department will extend the protections, but won’t re-designate Syria as having conditions that prevent its citizens from returning safely.

That means Syrians already receiving the protections can stay for at least another year and a half, but more can’t apply once the current program expires in March, said the officials, who weren’t authorized to discuss the decision ahead of a formal announcement and demanded anonymity. A Homeland Security spokesman didn’t respond to a request for comment.”

 

To read the complete story by The Associated Press, click here.