Approximately 335 of the 7,000 Syrians in the United States with temporary protected status, known as TPS, who had already applied to retain their status will have their work authorizations automatically extended six months to March, according to a letter sent to recipients obtained exclusively by the Washington Examiner.

The Department of Homeland Security will give new work documents to all recipients from Syria who have pending applications to continue living and working in the U.S. though the end of the program in September 2019. DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced in January that the program — which offers protections from deportation and legal permission to work in the U.S. for Syrians and nationals of nine other countries who are in the U.S. — would end Sept. 30, 2019.