The government designates certain countries for Temporary Protected Status or “TPS” if conditions in that country temporarily make a person’s return unsafe, or if its government is unable to sufficiently handle the return of its nationals. A country may be designated for TPS if it has a civil war or ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or other similar situation. If a person properly registers for TPS, assuming certain other conditions are met, he or she: (1) will not be removed/deported; (2) will not be detained by DHS, unless there is an underlying criminal issue; (3) can obtain a work permit; and (4) can apply for a travel document, although one should consult an attorney to assure that leaving the country will not cause other immigration problems. A grant of TPS, by itself, does not allow a person to apply for permanent residency. However, TPS does allow a person to stay in the country and, if the person is eligible, he or she can get or apply for permanent residency by other means.