Washington (SD) – US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas has announced that Somalis without legal status in the United States have been given an 18-month extension to stay in the country.

He also said that Somalia has once again been classified as a troubled country.

“Through the extension and re-designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status, the United States will be able to offer safety and protection to Somalis who may not be able to return to their country, due to ongoing conflict and a worsening humanitarian crisis,” said Mayorkas in a statement.

The extension will begin for Somalis in US on September 18, 2021, and end on March 17, 2023, according to the statement.

Mayorkas said he made the decision after consulting with various US agencies, and carefully studied the conflict and the situation in Somalia, which he said included thirty years of conflict, natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

He added that the move to allow up to 447 people to take advantage of their stay in the United States since March 17, 2023 if they meet the conditions.

There are more than 400,000 TPS holders in the United States, many of whom are still processing their TPS benefits after Biden designated their countries in March.