Van Hollen Welcomes Biden Administration Action to Protect Cameroonians Fleeing Violence, Humanitarian Crisis

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) applauded the Biden Administration’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation to Cameroon, which will provide lifesaving protections for Cameroonian nationals in the United States amid the current humanitarian crisis in the country. The Senator wrote twice to President Biden in recent months – in November and again last month – calling for TPS for Cameroon.

“I have long advocated for this action and I applaud the Biden Administration’s decision to provide a safe refuge for these families already residing in the United States. Forcing them to return to Cameroon in the midst of a civil war and humanitarian crisis would put their lives in grave and certain danger. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas called me last night to inform me of this action and I thank him and President Biden for taking this important step to keep these families safe,” said Sen. Van Hollen, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy.

TPS is a form of statutory relief made available to nationals of a designated country living in the U.S. when return to their home country would be unsafe due to ongoing armed conflict, the temporary effects of an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. TPS provides protection from deportation and permission to work in the U.S. for the duration of the designation.