The Bush Administration is extending the period under which nearly 250,000 Salvadorans can remain in the United States while El Salvador continues its recovery from devastating earthquakes in 2001.
U.S. Homeland Security and immigration officials announced Thursday an 18-month extension of the Salvadorans' so-called Temporary Protected Status,.
The move will allow the Salvadorans to continue living and working in the United States from March 9 of this year through September 9, 2006.
Officials say the status is granted to eligible nationals of designated countries suffering the effects of an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster or other temporary conditions.
Major earthquakes in January and February 2001 devastated El Salvador and left hundreds of people dead.
Some information for this story provided by AP.