Burundi and Sudan

The TPS programs for Burundi and Sudan were set to expire on November 2, 2004, and the new notice extended the designation for Burundi and Sudan for 12 months until November 2, 2005. This applies to nationals of Burundi and Sudan or to "aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Burundi or Sudan." According to the Federal Register notice, there are approximately 19 such individuals from Burundi and 449 such individuals from Sudan who have been granted TPS and are eligible for re registration. The 60-day re-registration period for Burundi began on October 7, 2004 and will remain in effect until December 6, 2004.

Sudan was also re-designated for TPS through November 2, 2005, and the 180-day registration period began on October 7, 2004 and will remain in affect until April 5, 2005.

Burundi and Sudan were first designated under the TPS program by the Attorney General on November 4, 1997 based upon ongoing armed conflict, and temporary and extraordinary conditions resulting from such conflict in both countries. Since the initial designation, there have been numerous extensions of the TPS designation for nationals of Burundi and Sudan. Through continued monitoring of the conditions in the country, the Secretaries of the Department Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS) have determined that "some progress has been made in the peace process...[however] both the armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions that prompted designation to persist."

There continues to be fighting between the armed forces of Burundi, as well as fighting with rebel groups. The Federal Notice which extended the TPS designation for Burundi cited the following figures: "The armed conflict has displaced 140,000-280,000 persons within Burundi and an estimated 800,000 outside Burundi... Another 100,000 Burundians are temporarily displaced each month. In spite of the reduction of armed conflict, there continue to be reports of human rights violations by all parties to the conflict. An estimated 250,000-300,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Burundi since 1993. Nearly 14 percent of the population (965,000 people) is in need of emergency food and agricultural assistance. The number of people below the poverty line doubled from 33 percent in 1990 to 67 percent in 2003."

In Sudan, there is a continuing North-South civil war, in spite of some progress made toward a peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Fighting continues between the SPLA and southern militias. The Federal Notice which extended the TPS designation for Sudan cited the following figures: "Renewed fighting caused the displacement of 70,000 people in south Sudan's Shilluk Kingdom. The 20-year old conflict is estimated to have killed 2 million people, internally displaced 4.5 million people, and sent over 600,000 refugees into neighboring countries... In addition to the North-South conflict, the conflict in the western region of Darfur has intensified. Up to 30,000 civilians have been killed. Up to one million people have been displaced from their homes...and over 100,000 have fled... One million civilians in Darfur remain beyond the reach of aid workers due to the ongoing conflict. Reports of killings, rapes, beatings, looting and burning of property throughout the Darfur region continue."

Honduras and Nicaragua

The TPS programs for Honduras and Nicaragua were set to expire on January 5, 2005, and the new notice extended the designation for Honduras and Nicaragua for 18 months until July 5, 2006. This applies to nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua or to "aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras or Nicaragua." According to the Federal Register notice, there are approximately 81,875 nationals of Honduras and 4,309 nationals of Nicaragua who have been granted TPS and are eligible for re registration.

The 60-day re-registration period will remain in effect until January 3, 2005, by which date eligible individuals must re-register for TPS.. For additional instructions, fees, and procedures for re-registration, and applications Employment Authorization (EADs), please refer to the December 6, 2004 USCIS Press Release: USCIS Reminds Eligible Hondurans and Nicaraguans to Re-register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by January 3, 2005.

Honduras and Nicaragua were first designated under the TPS program by the Attorney General on September 16, 1991 and September 4, 2001 based upon the "devastation resulting from Hurricane Mitch." This designation was subsequently extended 4 times. The U.S. Government has determined that an 18-month extension of the TPS for these two countries is warranted because "Due to continued reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Mitch... Honduras and Nicaragua remain unable, temporarily, to handle the return of its nationals.

An October 29, 2004 USCIS Press Release also states that "DHS is favorably disposed to considering an extension for El Salvador...which suffered damage similar to that of Honduras and Nicaragua...if the country conditions there warrant. The current TPS designation for El Salvador expires in March of 2005.