The long‐run effects of temporary protection from deportation

This paper estimates the effect of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a temporary legalization policy, on the incomes and property ownership of Salvadoran recipients over 20 years. We compare likely undocumented Salvadoran immigrants eligible for TPS to a control group of likely undocumented immigrants ineligible for TPS in an event study design that allows us to observe the policy's effects over 2 decades. We find that earnings, homeownership, and use of a car increased considerably for at least 15 years following the granting of TPS. This suggests that even temporary and limited legal status can have substantial and sustained benefits for recipients.