The Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 200,000 Salvadorans this week, making El Salvador the fourth country to lose protection under the Trump administration. Salvadorans make up the largest population with TPS. They were granted the protection after the earthquake in 2001 that killed over 1,000 people. Those living in the U.S. will have until September 2019 to return to El Salvador or obtain a different legal status. Yet, a bipartisan group of lawmakers say it is not safe enough for them to return to El Salvador, considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world due to economic instability and gang violence. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) is one of the lawmakers who sent a letter to DHS saying eliminating TPS for Salvadorans and other Central Americans will further destabilize the region. He joins Soledad O’Brien for a conversation on why he thinks Central Americans should continue to be protected, his hope for a legislative solution, and the political repercussions for his fellow party members if they continue to aggressively oppose immigration.

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