For Immediate Release
April 19, 2021
Media Contact
Erik Villalobos, [email protected]
Information, News, & Statement on TPS for April 19, 2021 from the National TPS Alliance
More Info on TPS Families Hunger Strike
Nationwide– Today, the issue of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has made several headlines across the country.
The Supreme Court officially heard arguments in Sanchez v. Mayorkas, a lawsuit that began as a challenge to Trump administration and ended today with a defense from the Biden administration. Today was also the official deadline for the Biden administration to respond to the landmark Ramos lawsuit, which prevented the de-documentation and deportation of 400,000 people. After being given 60 days to respond to Ramos lawsuit, both parties involved in the lawsuit are now requesting that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals extend the stay for an additional 60 days as the Biden administration continues the process of reviewing the prior administration’s termination of TPS designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, and Sudan. This news comes the week after our struggle landed on the front page of the New York Times, as we continue to wage a hunger strike in the nation’s capital, and as actions are planned around the country this week wherein TPS holders will continue to demand action from all branches of government removing obstacles to permanent status and full equality.
In response to the recent developments on TPS, Cristina Morales, Hunger Strike participant, plaintiff in Ramos v. Wolf, Executive Committee member of the National TPS Alliance, San Francisco, CA, released the following statement on behalf of the National TPS Alliance:
“The outcome of the Supreme Court case today will have a significant impact on our families, and it will open or close the few and only available legal avenues which exist for us to obtain permanent residency. However, we have been waiting for President Biden to respond to the lawsuit in the Ninth Circuit, which is of vital importance.
“The clock is ticking and instead of taking immediate action on TPS, President Biden continues to extend the clock while our families remain in limbo. He must make good on his word and immediately restore the TPS program, and expand it to benefit the largest number of people who cannot return to their countries due to natural disasters, political disasters or the pandemic.
“Both of these lawsuits are complex, but they make clear this one simple fact: congress and the Biden admin must take immediate action on TPS, to do what is right and guarantee a long-awaited permanent residency. They can bring HR6 to the floor of the senate or include its legalization provisions in the next budget bill. Congress and the President must act now! No more waiting, and no more blaming asylum-seekers and refugees for inaction.”
“We are only weeks away from April 30th, the end of our hunger strike in Washington DC and the 100th day of the Biden administration. We will be expecting action from the administration which promised to protect TPS families. Our Lives are Not Temporary!”
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The National TPS Alliance is a grassroots organization comprised of over 50 committees nationwide, advocating for the permanent residency of beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status from the countries of El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Nicaragua, Nepal, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Yemen
https://www.facebook.com/TPSAlliance
https://www.nationaltpsalliance.org/