MTA supports efforts to save Temporary Protected Status
MTA supports efforts to save Temporary Protected Status
The MTA Board of Directors has voted to publicly condemn the Trump administration’s revocation of Temporary Protected Status for people from other countries who came to the U.S. because of ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane, or other extraordinary conditions.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, people from the following countries have been designated for TPS: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has announced he is revoking TPS for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador — meaning that in the near future, TPS recipients from those countries will be required to return to their home countries regardless of whether they can do so safely.
The MTA Board’s action, taken in December, requires the MTA to communicate its support for TPS to the governor, the Massachusetts Legislature and Congress. Go here for an alert by the American Friends Service Committee that will connect you to your member of Congress. The AFSC asks callers to deliver the following message:
- President Trump's termination of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador is a cruel attack on immigrants in the U.S. This move will rip apart families and hurt our communities.
- I call on you to save this life-saving program to ensure that the U.S. can continue to grant TPS to countries that need shelter for their citizens.
- I urge you to pass legislation immediately that provides legal permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship for all TPS holders, such as the American Promise Act.
More information can be found at the following locations:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Temporary Protected Status
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency provides information about who is eligible for TPS and what documents must be filed to receive or extend that designation. - National TPS Alliance - Save TPS Now
The National TPS Alliance has information in Spanish and English about efforts to Save TPS. The Massachusetts coordinator, Jose Palma, can be contacted at palmaj77@yahoo.com. - Congress must act to right the wrongs of TPS termination
The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition — MIRA — has an informative article on the issue, which includes links to more resources. - Giving a voice to TPSeanos
Unidos US provides background on the program and information about the nationwide campaign to Save TPS. - Save TPS
Alianza Americas has information about re-registration for Honduras and Nicaragua. - Re-Registration Period Now Open for Haitians with Temporary Protected Status
Haitians can go here for information about re-registering before March 10. - 'An Assault on the Body of the Church’
This Jan. 22, 2018, article in The Atlantic, “An Assault on the Body of the Church,” focuses on the 200,000 Salvadorans in this country, most of whom arrived after a massive earthquake in 2001. Many have been here so long they have few or no ties to El Salvador, yet they are being told they must return.