November 6, 2017 - Latino Leaders Call for Extension of Temporary Protected Status as Immigrants Face Threats and Dangerous Conditions

November 6, 2017

LATINO LEADERS CALL FOR EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS AS IMMIGRANTS FACE THREATS AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 45 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, is calling for the protection and extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Haiti. Created in 1990, TPS allows individuals from countries facing “ongoing-armed conflict, environmental disaster or extreme conditions” to receive temporary immigration status in the United States. By today, Monday, November 6, the Department of Homeland Security must extend TPS for the countries of Honduras and Nicaragua in order to prevent their TPS status from expiring.

Expiration of TPS for these Central American countries would mean that these immigrants will no longer have the permission to live and work in the United States. Deportation after years of calling the United States their home and, for many, raising children here, would be hugely disruptive to these individuals and their families that are now deeply rooted in our nation--many TPS holders have been living in the United States for an average of 19 years. TPS recipients contribute to our economy and our communities and deporting TPS holders would not only result in massive losses in GDP but would cost employers $967 million.

“There is no legitimate reason behind eliminating or reducing TPS for the individuals who have come to the United States and found a true home here, despite the recent recommendation by the State Department. TPS provides an opportunity for those living in countries torn apart by conflict, environmental disaster or other extreme situations to seek safety in the United States. TPS recipients are not harming our communities; rather they are integral to our society and workforce. Congress should take action to ensure that they are not uprooted from our communities. As we continue to fight for fair and humane immigration policy, we must place TPS extension at the top of these priorities,” said Hector Sanchez Barba, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

“Uprooting families that have built full lives in this country, with federal permission and in flight from extremely dangerous conditions, makes no sense whatsoever; even those who would accord humanitarian concerns no role in immigration policy should see how counterproductive ending TPS would be for business and employers, for community cohesion, for international relations, and for the ongoing success of our nation,” said Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and MALDEF President and General Counsel.

"What reason can there possibly to send people who are living peacefully in our nation - raising their American children and contributing greatly to our economy - back to countries where their well being will immediately be put at risk? Only an administration guided by cruelty, disdain and hate for our nation's immigrants would ever consider doing such a thing," stated Jose Calderon, President, Hispanic Federation, and Co-Chair, NHLA Immigration Committee.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

| Michael Torra | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 425-0582 |

| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 45 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

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