On May 16, Central American migrants and their families, faith leaders, community advocates from communities throughout the United States gathered in front of the White House. They held a news conference — followed by a march towards Capitol Hill — to demand that President Joe Biden utilize his executive authority for migrants from Central America.
The action, led by the National TPS Alliance, is part of a continued effort to place political pressure on the Biden administration to re-designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for migrants from El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, to designate TPS for Guatemala and to expand these humanitarian protections for other migrant and refugee groups in need of immediate relief.
TPS can be designated on a foreign country if conditions there temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, including an armed conflict or environmental disaster. Individuals who are TPS holders can’t be removed from the US, but are not permanent legal residents.
The National TPS Alliance is urging Biden to take more immediate and forceful action to welcome and protect all migrant families affected by ongoing instability in their native countries — not just for those already in the United States, but also for those still hoping to arrive.
“My husband has TPS, my children are DACA recipients and I am undocumented,” said Mayra Romero, a Salvadoran member of the Massachusetts TPS Committee. “I am calling for all of our migrant community to join us in the fight for a re-designation of TPS, so that many who are undocumented like myself can receive much needed protections.”
“President Biden must utilize his executive authority — the power of his pen — to protect Central Americans and other migrants and refugees in need of immediate relief,” said Emily Hernandez, a child of TPS holders and a member of the TPS Committee of Nevada.
“This is needed not only because of the ongoing political and economic instability in these countries, but the United States owes a historical debt to Central America, because of its long history of political interference, the mistreatment of our people at the border and the interior of the country and the vital contribution of labor that we have made — and continue to make — to bolster the US economy. TPS is the least the United States can offer migrants,” said Hernandez.
“Despite this dysfunctional Congress’ failure to pass critical immigration legislation, our fight has persevered,” said Teofilo Martinez, TPS holder and coordinator of the Georgia TPS Committee. “We remain committed to the struggle for permanent residency and equal rights. This is our north star! It is what we so rightfully deserve!”
“Last month, with the support of the National TPS Alliance, sociologist Cecilia Menjivar and economist William Pleites released reports on social and economic conditions in El Salvador and Honduras which show us that our native countries are under no condition to receive us,” said Francis Garcia, TPS holder and member of the TPS Committee of Nevada. “We need immediate action from President Biden to protect Central American migrant families.”