8 JUN 2023

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Leaders Urge Administration to Extend and Expand Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal & Venezuela

A full recording of the conference is available here.

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Nanette Barragán, Rep. Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04), Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and Rep. Rob Menendez (NJ-08) held a press conference urging the Administration to use its authority to extend and expand Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nepal nationals already living and working in the U.S.

With a rapidly approaching June 22nd hearing in the Ramos v. Nielsen case – a federal court proceeding that could determine the future of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for several Central American nations – the Members of Congress called on President Biden to overcome Republican obstruction and act urgently. As the Members underscored, by extending and redesignating TPS for these countries now, President Biden can ensure hundreds of thousands of immigrant families can continue contributing to our communities and economy.

For example, extending and redesignating TPS for Salvadorans, Hondurans and Nicaraguans in the U.S. would add more than $29 billion annually to our nation’s economy. Expanding TPS would not only allow hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers to legally work and remain in the country, but keep families together, as current and potential TPS recipients live with 800,000 U.S. citizens – 400,000 of whom are U.S. citizen children.

Speakers highlighted the deteriorating in-country conditions – civil unrest, violence, political repression, and climate-related disasters – that make it impossible for individuals from these countries to return home safely. The Members of Congress made it clear that these conditions call out for TPS extensions and expansion.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán (CA-44):

“Protecting TPS-holders is about protecting women, men, and children who have come to the United States fleeing violence, and from the effects that we’re seeing from climate change in their home countries. Honduras and Nicaragua are still recovering from the disastrous effects of climate change, of being within the striking zone of devastating hurricanes within recent years. Nicaraguans and Venezuelans continue to live every day under oppressive regimes where political dissent is punished swiftly, with violence and repression. Salvadorians have been the subject of state-sponsored violence. Protecting TPS-holders is about protecting American families from being torn apart because they live in mixed households. More than a quarter of a million American children live in a home where a close relative is a TPS-holder. If you add the fact that our childcare industry is boosted by the contributions of TPS-holding caretakers, then we are talking about devastating ripple-effects into the lives of our young children. Finally, protecting TPS is about protecting our American economy. TPS-holders and their households contribute $2.3 billion in federal taxes, and $1.3 billion in state and local taxes annually, and hold $10.1 billion in spending power. Amidst all the squabble of the debt ceiling and America’s spending habits, why would we punish those who only wish to feel safe in our country and contribute to our economy? We [are] asking this administration to not only do what makes economic sense, but moral sense.”

Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY- 07):

“[We] ask one more time of the administration and of President Joe Biden to do the right thing for people that are suffering. As you can see, climate change is something that is impacting everyone — look what is happening in Canada, it is affecting us here. It is not a situation that happens only in El Salvador or Nicaragua. When I went with Nancy Pelosi to Nicaragua, I was one of the first members to ask her, ‘We need to go to Central America, so that we see the devastation that forced families to come to the United States, to leave families behind, to come to this country seeking refuge.’ That is who we are, we have always taken care of our neighbors. And one more time, I am asking the administration to do so again. This morning we stand with the defendants in the Ramos case, and all TPS-holders, nationals from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Venezuela.”

Rep. Chuy Garcia (IL-04):

“I stand here today echoing the voices of my constituents in Illinois who are calling upon President Biden to provide an ounce of hope and opportunity for [current and potential TPS recipients], and their families as well. In Illinois alone, there are nearly 4,000 TPS-holders. They are essential workers who have kept our country running; they are construction workers who have built our roads, bridges, and highways; they are restaurant workers who have fed us when we needed that most; and they are countless workers in the care economy caring for our children and our elderly. In other words, they are people just like you and me, and they have long-established lives in this country. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. TPS-holders deserve a safe place to call home. Because of them and with them, we urge President Biden to take that action for Central American countries, Nepal, and Venezuela. Let’s face the grim reality. Without a TPS extension, thousands of families will be forced to contemplate the impossible choice: either returning to a country that is foreign to them, for many of them have been here for decades; or, remain undocumented in the U.S. And for those with U.S. citizen children, the decision becomes even more agonizing. That is why we are making this call to the White House and urging them to do the right thing.”

Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46):

“TPS is not only about those that are fleeing from violence and challenges at home, but it is also about America. These people come to America to enrich our country, and at a time where we have a 3.6% record low unemployment rate, they come to work hard. These are honest people, also here to be a part of the American Dream. And short of a true immigration reform, we also ask President Biden to step up and use his pen to sign an executive order to give Temporary Protected Status to El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal, and redesignate Venezuela. It worked for the Ukrainian refugees — we all agree, that was the right thing to do by President Biden — and I would say, very much, that this redesignation renewal and additions for Temporary Protected Status is the right thing to do.”

Sergio Gonzales, Executive Director of the Immigration Hub:

“Immigrants helped us get through the pandemic; they are helping to rebuild our economy and our country. Redesignating TPS is a common sense measure we are asking and urging President Biden to take to protect hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers and families who already call this nation home.TPS redesignation isn’t just about immigrant rights, 64% of voters support President Biden using his TPS authority. This is a common-sense policy and the right thing to do.”

Gustavo Torres, CASA Executive Director:

“We are grateful for the leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus today in pushing President Biden for Temporary Protected Status. We stood united today in one message: As always citizenship is our north star, but with Congress’s failure to pass this bill, the future of so many immigrants is in the hands of President Biden. This is beyond this lawsuit because this moment creates a legacy – the President’s legacy of protecting immigrants. President Biden can redesignate TPS today and avoid this coming crisis now.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigrationpolicies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.