12 OCT 2023
Bipartisan Letter from Florida Members Of Congress Calls on President Biden to Expand Temporary Protected Status for Nicaragua
“We strongly urge the Biden administration to reconsider its decision and grant a redesignation for Temporary Protected Status for Nicaragua. Doing so would provide relief to hundreds of thousands of people, promote economic integration, and support host communities.”
To read a full copy of the letter, click here.
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, as reported by the Miami Herald, Florida U.S. Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Maria Elvira Salazar and Maxwell Frost led 41 members of Congress in a bipartisan letter urging the Biden administration to expand Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaragua – by using its statutory authority to “redesignate” TPS. The signees write that there is an urgent mandate for President Biden to use his administrative authority and provide swift and popular relief for Nicaraguans seeking safety and security in the U.S. The letter is a welcome departure from the GOP chaos in Congress, and efforts by MAGA extremists to double down on their commitment to advance “darkly fanciful” immigration policies.
Below are excerpts from the letter sent to the Biden administration:
“We commend the Biden Administration’s decision to re-designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans in the United States. However, an 18-month extension of TPS for Nicaragua instead of TPS redesignation falls short of the response needed to address the multiple ongoing and emergent crises. We are hopeful that the Biden Administration will continue to evaluate the situation and ultimately make the correct decision in light of the impact it would have on approximately 450,000 Nicaraguans in the United States.”
“We expect that a closer examination of the dire humanitarian situation in Nicaragua and the uncertainty of thousands who reside in the United States – including more than 200 who have been rendered stateless – will lead to a finding that TPS redesignation is necessary for Nicaragua. Given this and the deteriorating rule of law situation, we urgently request your administration to re-designate TPS for Nicaragua.”
“The Nicaraguan people have endured unimaginable suffering, with hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes in search of safety and stability. Furthermore, 222 former Nicaraguan political prisoners, now residing in the United States, had their citizenship stripped away and remain stateless. This group must be protected by TPS re-designation given the ongoing legal disputes regarding humanitarian parole, which many are currently relying on to be able to stay in the United States. These conditions, combined with continued recovery from environmental disasters, prevent Nicaraguans from safely returning to their country.”
“A TPS redesignation for Nicaragua would undoubtedly save lives and be one of the most consequential immigration policies to date for the Administration. A redesignation would provide security and opportunity to those already living in the United States and waiting in legal limbo. Furthermore, it would give these individuals, many of whom are already strongly integrated into their communities, permission to work and access key benefits. We believe this would be a missed opportunity to stand up for the values of human rights, democracy, and compassion for communities around the United States.”
“We strongly urge the Biden administration to reconsider its decision and grant a redesignation for Temporary Protected Status for Nicaragua. Doing so would provide relief to hundreds of thousands of people, promote economic integration, and support host communities. We hope you will continue to uphold our nation’s commitments to protect those being persecuted and continue to support the Nicaraguan people in the face of such peril and uncertainty.”
Background: The letter comes on the heels of several other requests from members of Congress for President Biden to provide deportation relief and work authorization for Nicaraguan nationals – including requests in February, July, and from other Florida elected officials. In September, the Biden administration redesignated TPS for Venezuela. TPS for Nicaragua has been extended until July 5, 2025 but it has not been redesignated so new applicants cannot apply. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Nicaraguans are experiencing a “massive violation of human rights,” leading over 260,000 people to flee the country as of June 2022.
To read a full copy of the letter, click here.
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