US Congress: Pakistanis in US may get residence extension

Bill introduced in congress cites hardships created by last year's floods as reason to allow for extension.

WASHINGTON: A bill has been introduced in the 112th US Congress to allow for the designation of temporary protected status (TPS) for qualifying Pakistani nationals currently in America, on account of the situation and hardships created in Pakistan by last year’s floods.

According to the bill, TPS allows aliens, who do not legally qualify as refugees but are nonetheless fleeing or reluctant to return to potentially dangerous situations, to temporarily remain in the US.

The Pakistani Temporary Protected Status Act of 2011, sponsored by Democratic Congressman from Texas Al-Green, has been referred to the House committee on the Judiciary.

The measure seeks to designate Pakistan as a TPS-eligible country and sets forth related TPS eligibility requirements, including continuous presence of the applicant in the US since July 22, 2010.

Welcoming the move, the Pakistani Embassy in Washington voiced hope that the US Congress would be able to take action on this issue and help facilitate a large number of Pakistanis living in the US.

The Pakistani embassy in US had advocated strongly for grant of TPS to Pakistani nationals and has taken up the matter with the American authorities in several meetings, embassy officials said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th,  2011.