President Joe Biden’s administration on April 15 announced protection for Cameroon nationals who are in the United States.
The move, which will shield the Cameroonians for 18 months from deportation, was made because of fighting in their home country, according to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
“Cameroonian nationals currently residing in the U.S. who cannot safely return due to the extreme violence perpetrated by government forces and armed separatists, and a rise in attacks led by Boko Haram, will be able to remain and work in the United States until conditions in their home country improve,” Mayorkas said in a statement.
Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group that originated in Nigeria, and an ISIS-affiliated group called ISIS-WA have killed tens of thousands of people in Nigeria, Cameroon, and nearby countries since 2009, according to the Congressional Research Service. Clashes between separatists and the government have also contributed to the mayhem.
Mayorkas has granted the protection, formally known as Temporary Protected Status, to people from a slew of countries in recent months, including Afghanistan, Sudan, and Ukraine.
Before Friday, the United States had never granted the protection to nationals of Cameroon.
The designation is for those who were residing in America as of April 14.
A law passed in 1990 enables the federal government to grant the protected status to immigrants who are nationals of foreign countries where there is an ongoing armed conflict or a natural disaster.
According to the Center for American Progress, up to 40,000 Cameroonians, mostly adults, are eligible for the protection.
The action drew praise from some, including U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
“I have long advocated for this action and I applaud the Biden Administration’s decision to provide a safe refuge for these families already residing in the United States. Forcing them to return to Cameroon in the midst of a civil war and humanitarian crisis would put their lives in grave and certain danger,” Van Hollen said in a statement.
“We commend the Biden administration for making these overdue, life-saving protections available for Cameroonians in the U.S.,” the National Immigration Law Center said.
Others questioned the designation.
“With Secretary Mayorkas continuing to aggressively designate countries like Cameroon for TPS, it is fair to wonder what illegal alien population won’t receive amnesty-lite by the end of the Biden administration," R.J. Hauman, head of government relations and communications for Federation for American Immigration Reform, said in a statement.
“This is even more offensive considering what is happening down at the border. Instead of, say, fully re-implementing ‘Remain in Mexico,’ he’s busy figuring out how to make sure illegal alien populations can remain in America forever.”
