Biden grants temporary protected status to Cameroonians in the U.S.

Simon Ateba( Chief White House Correspondent )

Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.

The Biden administration announced on Friday that it will grant temporary protected status to Cameroonians living in the United States due to the ongoing conflict between government forces armed separatists.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an estimated 12,000 Cameroonians residing in the United States will be eligible for the status starting April 14 and last a period of 18 months.

In a statement, Alejandro Mayorkas, the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, cited the conflict between Cameroonian forces and separatist groups in Cameroon’s southwest region as well as a rise in attacks in Cameroon’s far north by Boko Haram terror group as reasons for the TPS status.

Last month, at least 18 U.S. senators urged President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Cameroon to provide “lifesaving protection to Cameroonians in the United States.”