For Immediate Release
June 15, 2021
Media Contact
Erik Villalobos, [email protected]
National TPS Alliance Response to Senate Hearing on American Dream & Promise Act
See Broadcast of Senate Hearing
Nationwide– Today, the US Senate Judiciary committee held an official hearing to discuss the American Dream & Promise Act, legislation which passed the House of Representatives back in march of this year and would provide a permanent residency to an estimated 4.4 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., including Dreamers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Temporary Protected (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries.
In response to this important hearing for the future of millions in the migrant community, Doris Landaverde of the National TPS Alliance made the following statements:
“Today on the 9 year anniversary of DACA, we are reminded that progress comes from the bottom-up and the outside-in. We at the National TPS Alliance are following that theory of change, and we are continuing to demonstrate this change until we have our green cards in hand and the equality we so rightfully deserve.
For the past 15 years, I have worked as a janitor at Harvard and have been a proud union member. My husband and I have three beautiful daughters, all US born citizens. If TPS ends, my family and I will face a terrible fate, just like over 400,000 TPS holders from 12 other countries. We have had our status extended again and again for decades. Over that time, many of us have often gotten married, started families, and even opened businesses. It is clear that Our Lives Are Not Temporary and this is why we need the senate to stand with our families and take immediate action on a permanent residency!
My experiences as a TPS holder are what motivated me to speak up as a member of the National TPS Alliance. Today, the alliance is committed to achieving permanent protections for all TPS holders and we know exactly what is at stake. On October 4, we could potentially lose our status if no action is taken by congress and President Biden. Re-designating TPS for the Haitian community was much needed but Biden must continue to provide this necessary relief for Central America and for other TPS countries. He can also push congress to pass crucial legislation to grant green cards. He can even fight to include our families in the next infrastructure bill.
As the Senate discusses whether or not we are deserving of permanence in this country, and as Vice President Harris meets with members of migrant communities; none of whom are Central Americans, we are committed to continuing our struggle to demand a seat at the table in discussions about our future. We are calling on the senate to take action on the American Dream & Promise Act, and that they continue to push any vehicle, mechanism, or proposal which can guarantee our long awaited permanent residency.
We want results, not excuses. no photo ops, and no political games.”
– Doris Landaverde, Salvadoran TPS Holder, Massachusetts TPS Committee
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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