As Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections unravel, thousands of illegal immigrants are scrambling to prepare for life in the shadows. Rina Valle, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, has been cleaning offices in downtown San Francisco for over a decade. Her stability is now on the brink of collapse as her TPS status could expire in September.

Uncertain Future

Valle is among millions of illegal immigrants whose status is in jeopardy. The Supreme Court recently upheld the federal government’s authority to terminate TPS for citizens from certain countries, including Haiti and Syria. This decision has exposed the insecurity of immigrants from many other countries, including El Salvador, Venezuela, and Ukraine.

The Trump Administration has attempted to end TPS for people from 13 countries, leaving many without a clear future. Richard Boswell, a professor of immigration law, calls the question over whether the administration can legally do this a “very technical legal wrangle and battle” between the Supreme Court and lower courts.

Impact on Families

The termination of TPS has already had a dramatic impact on many families. Jhony Silva Jr., a 30-year-old illegal immigrant from Honduras, lost his legal status last September and with it, his job as a nursing assistant at Stanford University. He is now living at home with his parents without a stable job or the ability to get one.

Many TPS holders are facing similar challenges, with some considering self-deportation while others are hoping for the best. The situation has created a lot of panic, false hope, and confusion, according to Reema Ghabra, an attorney at the Arab Resource and Organizing Center in San Francisco.

Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.