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LETTER: “Designating TPS for Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala must be considered as an essential part of the U.S. strategy to address the root causes of migration from Central America.”
CHICAGO – Alianza Americas, Latin America Working Group, Presente.org, and 209 advocacy organizations sent a letter to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas, and Secretary of State Blinken urging the administration to immediately grant new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador. The letter also urges the administration to designate TPS for Guatemala in response to the severe devastation caused by hurricanes Eta and Iota.
The letter follows previous petitions from organizations across the country and members of Congress. In its first six months, the administration has granted TPS for Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Burma, and Venezuela. As the climate crisis rages on, the conditions in Central America, including economic damage, loss of homes and livelihoods, widespread and growing food insecurity, and destruction of critical infrastructure, are still more than sufficiently serious to warrant TPS designations.
“The aftermath of Hurricanes Eta and Iota have made it nearly impossible for communities in Central America to rebuild with dignity. The Biden-Harris administration has been bold enough to designate TPS to Haiti, Burma, Yemen, and Venezuela, and they need to keep leading. We call on the administration to grant TPS for nationals from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, who are equally deserving of this protection. Furthermore, by granting TPS protection for these nationalities, the Biden-Harris administration will also be advancing their efforts to deal with the root causes of migration from these countries, by helping them advance towards economic, social, and political stability,” said Oscar Chacon, executive director of Alianza Americas.
“If the Biden Administration aims to address the root causes of migration, it must immediately issue TPS designations for El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, and a new designation for Guatemala. Not doing so would destabilize the economies of Central American countries further and harm immigrant communities in the United States. Communities across Central America urgently still need help and aren’t getting it from their governments because they’re too corrupt. TPS can help Central American countries recover from the back-to-back hurricanes and protect immigrant communities living and working in the United States. Natural disasters like the hurricanes are exactly what TPS was intended for and communities across the United States and Central America will benefit. This can’t wait,” said Daniella Burgi-Palomino, Co-director of the Latin America Working Group.
“We are committed to permanent status, full human rights, and inclusion of migrant communities across the United States. Central America has been ravaged by climate catastrophes and the time is now for the Biden-Harris administration to grant new TPS designations to Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador, and Guatemala. Granting TPS is just the first step and should lead to immigration policy that grants immigrants the opportunity to apply for permanent protections. Additionally, we support the strengthening and implementation of public policies in Central American countries that address climate change and respond to environmental devastation through prevention, humanitarian attention, and lasting solutions for those affected,” said Matt Nelson, executive director of Presente.org.
For the full text of the letter, see here.
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Alianza Americas is a network of migrant-led organizations working in the United States and transnationally to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central and South America.
The Latin America Working Group (LAWG) and the Latin America Working Group Education Fund (LAWGEF) mobilize concerned citizens, organizations, and networks to call for just U.S. policies towards Latin America and the Caribbean.
Presente.org is the nation’s largest online Latinx organizing group — and the nation’s premier Latinx digital organizing hub — advancing social justice with technology, media, and culture. Presente.org’s mission is to advance Latinx power and create winning campaigns that amplify Latinx voices; expand the political imagination and traditional boundaries; and foster inspiration for freedom, equity, and justice.
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