Civic Register
| 9.1.17

Trump Policy Threatens Immigrants Fleeing from Terror

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What’s the story?

As the Trump administration looks to revamp the entire immigration system, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program may be on the chopping block. Up next for elimination may be TPS designations for Sudan, South Sudan, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Haiti, even as some lawmakers are pushing for TPS designation to be extended to immigrants from Venezuela.

There are currently over 300,000 immigrants in the U.S. covered under TPS designation to the six countries, some who have been here working, going to school, and paying taxes since the late 90’s.

Why does it matter?

As previously explained by Countable:

"Temporary Protected Status is an immigration designation that arose out of the Immigration Act of 1990. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) explains the program as a temporary measure to help immigrants whose home countries are not safe to return to. Participants in the program can secure working papers and travel documents for the duration of the designation.”

Like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), TPS designation allows immigrants to stay legally in the U.S., receiving the means to contribute and participate constructively in their communities, but it does not provide them with citizenship.

McClatchy reports that lawmakers are pressuring President Trump to let TPS participants from the three Central American countries *— * El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras, stay in the country, over 250,000 immigrants. A bipartisan group is collecting signatures for a letter to go to acting-Director of Homeland Security (DHS) Elaine Duke. The letter implores Duke to extend protection for people who have become valued members of their communities:

"Failing to renew TPS would needlessly tear apart families and communities across the country. TPS holders from Honduras and El Salvador have become valued and important members of our communities. They have started families, opened businesses, and contributed to this country in countless ways. They are part of the fabric of America.”

A DHS decision is expected on TPS participants from Sudan and South Sudan this week. Decisions on Honduras and Nicaragua could come as soon as early November, El Salvador by early January. A six-month extension of TPS designation to Haiti will also expire in January.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has also spent months lobbying the administration to extend TPS designation to Venezuela. In a letter to Secretary of State Tillerson and then-Director of DHS John Kelly, Rubio argued that it would be in the United States’ best interest to protect Venezuelans from being returned to the perils of the Maduro regime:

"In light of the ongoing political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, it is not in the best interests of the United States to deport non-violent Venezuelan nationals back to the country at this time."

Similarly, supporters of extending TPS designation for Central American immigrants say it controls against future illegal immigration, given that the countries are still in crisis, and provides important economic aid to those countries at the same time:

"Sending migrants back to countries where employment opportunities are scarce only strengthens the likelihood people will turn back around and try to illegally reenter the U.S. It also cuts off remittances, which last year in El Salvador reached the highest level in its history and amounted to $4.58 billion — 17.1 percent of the country’s GDP."

What do you think?

Should the administration extend TPS designation to these six countries? Should the administration add Venezuela? Or should all TPS designations be eliminated? Whether it’s TPS or DACA, should the U.S. extend special protections to specific groups? Which groups and why?

Use the Take Action button to tell your reps what you think!

— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia / Creative Commons)

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