The United States (US) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday said the Biden administration has decided to grant temporal deportation relief and work permits to Cameroonians amid an escalating armed conflict that has spawned a humanitarian crisis in the central African country, reported Africa News.
The Homeland Security Department said extreme violence between government forces and armed separatists in the African nation made it unsafe for them to return.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas cited increasing attacks by separatists and the Boko Haram extremist group as grounds for giving Cameroonians an 18-month reprieve from deportation.
The decision will apply to Cameroonians residing in the United States by April 14. An estimated 12,000 Cameroonians will be eligible for the status, according to the department.
The US department said extreme violence and the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure have resulted in economic instability, food insecurity, and several hundred thousand displaced Cameroonians without access to schools, hospitals, and other critical services.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, more than 30,000 people in northern Cameroon fled to Chad in December after violence left at least 22 people dead. There have been violent clashes in the border village of Ouloumsa between herders, fishermen, and farmers over dwindling water resources. Fifteen soldiers and several civilians were killed in attacks in September in English-speaking western areas of the African country.
Cameroon has become the 14th country eligible for Temporary Protected Status, a program created in 1990 for people from countries stricken by civil strife or natural disasters.
Since taking office in January of last year, US President Joe Biden has used the Temporary Protected Status program to grant some immigrants – who cannot return home safely due to extraordinary circumstances such as violent conflict or natural disasters in their country – the ability to stay and work legally in Washington.
