On Tuesday, February 13, the Inter-American Dialogue’s Congressional Program hosted a Congressional Members Working Group (CMWG) dinner on Capitol Hill. Members of Congress and a delegation of Salvadoran representatives from the private sector convened to discuss the issue of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The event was co-hosted by five members of congress: Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), and Norma Torres (D-CA). Participants included private sector leaders Miguel Ángel Simán (chairman of Inversiones Simco), Claudia Umaña Araujo (vice president of FUSADES), Roberto Murray Meza (president of the Board of Directors for Grupo Agrisal and president of FUNDEMAS), and María Eugenia Brizuela de Ávila (former foreign minister of El Salvador). Other guests present included Claudia Ivette Canjura de Centeno and representatives of diverse organizations working in El Salvador or on immigration policy.

Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, gave opening remarks. He thanked McGovern for his leadership on the topic and for hosting the event. He also underlined the importance of providing information to decision makers regarding the consequences of any decision regarding TPS for both the United States and El Salvador. The discussion highlighted the impacts of US immigration policy for Salvadorans, including the impact of ending TPS and the lack of a permanent solution for the Dreamers. Salvadorans are currently the largest population with TPS, and the second largest group with DACA, following immigrants from Mexico. 

The dinner was private and off-the-record.