Mark Krikorian

The United States has several programs under which it admits refugees from other nations or grants political asylum to foreigners residing in the United States. Under one such program created as part of the Immigration Act of 1990, foreigners visiting the United States can apply for “temporary protected status” (TPS) if armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions make a return to their home country impossible or dangerous. In the following viewpoint, Mark Krikorian argues that the TPS program is a misnomer because “temporary” refugees invariably become permanent U.S. residents. The existence of such a program, he contends, has become a magnet for illegal immigration as people apply for TPS status but then lobby to remain in the United States. Krikorian is executive director of the...