More than a week after hundreds of Salvadorans enrolled in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program began reporting unjustified layoffs, the situation continues due to misinformation among employers regarding the validity of their work permits.
On March 13, the government’s E-Verify platform, used by employers to verify work eligibility, was updated to clarify that applications for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) submitted before July 21, 2025, qualify for an automatic 540-day extension. This includes Salvadorans who submitted their re-registration application between January 17 and March 18, 2025.
This update confirms that individuals are legally authorized to work beyond March 9, 2026, and that the automatic extension of their work permits may remain in effect until the TPS expiration date, set for September 9, 2026.
At Alianza Americas, we believe it is essential to highlight this update to E-Verify because, in addition to being an official announcement, it reaffirms what we have been communicating to both elected officials and our communities: that the new law known as H.R. 1 did not reduce the duration of TPS for El Salvador or EAD cards to one year. Beneficiaries have a valid automatic extension of 540 days and are entitled to continue working.
We are deeply concerned that, to date, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not consistently updated other key platforms such as the SAVE system, which is consulted by both employers and state agencies—including those that issue driver’s licenses—to verify current immigration status. Although these agencies are independent entities and do not report directly to USCIS, they base their decisions on the information available in SAVE. Currently, this system, as well as the official El Salvador TPS website, continues to incorrectly list March 9 as the expiration date for work permits.
The lack of coherence in official information, coupled with USCIS’s delay in issuing thousands of EAD cards, is leading to unfair dismissals and seriously disrupting the lives of hundreds of families.
Lastly, we express our solidarity with the Haitian community benefiting from TPS. We are concerned that the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has announced that it will hear, in late April 2026, President Trump’s request to revoke this immigration protection for more than 300,000 Haitians. If this measure is approved, it will put thousands of lives at risk and weaken the role of district courts in defending rights against arbitrary decisions.
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Alianza Americas is a transnational network of migrant-led organizations in the United States. We advocate for social justice, equity, and human rights in the Americas.
