Defend the TPS! The New York congresswoman Tom Suozzi urges the government of President Trump to reverse the cancellation of the migratory program that benefits thousands of Honduran immigrants, many of them living in New York and Long Island, before its completion scheduled for September 7.
Suzzi (Democrat by New York-NY-03) offered a press conference accompanied by beneficiaries of the temporal protection status (TPS) to ask the National Security Department (DHS) to change their harmful decision to cancel the protections of the TPS for Hondurans and other people who have lived, worked, paid taxes and contributed to US society for more than two decades.
To demonstrate the harmful effects of this DHS decision, two Hondurans beneficiaries of the TPS and business owners living in the Congressional District of Suozzi shared their fear of attending the press conference held on Thursday and for the future of their children, families and businesses.
It should be noted that there are more than 1,095,115 Immigrants beneficiaries of the TPS living in the United States and about 52,585 Hondurans with TPS, of which 8,000 live in the area of New York and Long Island.
«I want to start applauding President Trump for ensuring the border and for his efforts to deport the criminals. I agree with those policies. But now I think they have gone too far, ”said representative Suzzi.
«I think we must work together to find some kind of agreement to move forward, because what is happening now is harmful to business, detrimental to order forces, and in fact, it is very inhuman and unfair to people. I think it’s antiestadoNense ».
Suzzi continued: «We have beneficiaries of the temporary protection status that arrived in the United States more than 25 years ago and have been legally living in the country. They pay taxes, raise their families here, work six days a week and go to church on Sundays, ”said Suzzi.
«And right now, they are terrified. There are about 50,000 Hondurans in the United States that have temporary protection status (TPS), many of which live here, in my district, in Long Island and in all New York. The Government has announced that Hondurans will lose their TPS on September 8, and it is simply not fair ».
«They were invited here after devastating disasters. And now, sending them back to countries that have not seen in decades, often amid violence and instability, is simply an error.
Tepesian fear
Congressman Suzzi emphasized that it was not easy to find participants willing to join the press conference in Hisckville (Long Island) because people are afraid. Two people who will be affected by this decision called to express their fears, asking for anonymity to protect themselves.
The first immigrant, under alias William, owns two businesses in the 3rd. District. He has been legally living under the TPS for more than 25 years. Now, run the risk of losing your TPS. «I arrived in the United States in the late 90s. I have TPS status. I own two businesses and employment to 20 people. I have two children, one of 20 years and another of 15. They are American citizens, ”said William.
When asked how he losing his status, William said: “He is scary for us. We do not know what will happen to our family, the businesses that we have or the community we serve. Not only will my family affect, but also the families of my employees and the communities we serve. If they expel us from this country, the businesses we direct would close ».
Suzzi called another person with alias Alfredo who owns a restaurant in the same 3rd. Congressional District
«I arrived in the United States more than 28 years ago. I own a restaurant and employment to 10 people, ”said Alfredo. «I have been living in this country, doing the right thing, paying my taxes, being a good neighbor and I have no criminal record. I have a 17 -year -old son who will soon start the university. To be honest, I don’t know what to do. I have a business. I have workers. I have a son who dreams. He wants to be an entrepreneur, and I will not be here to see it ».
Thus, the press conference, held at the Seiu 1199 headquarters in Hicksville, highlighted the lives of the beneficiaries of the TPS who have formed families, paid taxes and served to their communities since they obtained legal protection after natural disasters and armed conflicts in their countries of origin.
The DHS decision to terminate its status before September 8 threatens to separate families and uproot New Yorkers who have contributed to our economy and community for more than 25 years.
Suzzi was accompanied by seiu leaders, 32BJ, the New York Immigration Coalition and the National Day Day Network (NDLON). Together, they urged DHS to restore the protections of the TPS and to provide Congress the opportunity to promulgate a long -awaited solution for long -term immigrants living in a legal limbo.
They need permanent solution
«We are here to sympathize with the beneficiaries of the TPS throughout the country, to whom the National Security Department has arbitrarily canceled their status. The TPS is a promise that the United States made, ”said Nadia Marín Molina, executive co -director of the National Day laborers (NDLON).
«When people from other countries arrived here and discovered that they could not return home due to a hurricane or a war, they were told that they would be sure here, provided they request the TPS, and that they could work and live here. TPS beneficiaries have done this for decades. The Trump administration is breaking this promise for Honduras and many other countries ».
«Since 1998, I have lived legally in this country. I have worked, paid taxes and actively contributed to this company that I now consider my home. The decision of the Trump government to cancel TPS for Honduran immigrants has left me devastated.
«It is not easy to pack decades of life, memories and effort, much less imagine returning to a country that is not prepared to receive 50,000 of my compatriots. We will continue to fight to defend the TPS for our families, our communities and our future, and we need a permanent solution that recognizes our contributions and gives us security. We do not ask for alms, but justice and dignity, ”said Perla Canales, a member of 32bj Seiu and beneficiary of the TPS of Honduras.
It should be noted that the Hondurans received the TPS for the first time in 1999, after Hurricane Mitch. Many other groups received the same status due to catastrophic wars or conditions in their countries. Eliminating these protections would now force parents to abandon their children, destabilize long data employers and harm local economies.
«My name is Ramón Canales and I arrived at Long Island from Honduras in 1995. I love my native country and also loved the United States. For many years, I have worked on the construction and preparation of pizzas, ”said Canales.
«I am Honduran, but I am also from Long Island. What is happening to TPS beneficiaries is an injustice. My brothers and I came here in search of a better future. We have paid to our country and have strengthened it. Do not destroy our future by ending our American dream ».
«My name is Gladys Morales. I am a proud and resident Salvadoran of Hempstead, Long Island, where I have lived for 35 years. I also form part of the New York and Long Island Committee of the National Alliance of the TPS. This alliance is formed by beneficiaries of the TPS organized to save the TPS. It includes people from all countries who have received protection, such as Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Venezuela, Haiti and more ».
«I have worked in many jobs as a cleaning and child care employee. I take care of the elderly as an assistant. I arrived here with almost nothing, but I have built my life here. I have dedicated more than three decades to work hard and contribute to my community. I have paid taxes for more than 25 years. This country made a promise to the beneficiaries of the TPS and we demand that they fulfill it.
For his part, Arlene Gannon, of Community and Home Health Services, emphasized that 40% of its workforce is covered by the TPS.
«I have worked in the home care sector for many years. This sector serves people with physical and mental disabilities … We are one of the largest home care agencies here in Long Island, and 40% of our workforce is covered by the temporal protection status (TPS), ”said Gannon.
«Once the TPS is revoked, you can no longer work, so, unless citizens are requested, it can be deported. This will not only economically devastate Long Island and Queens, but will affect the entire country ».
When Congressman Suzzi asked him how many employees his company has, he replied that they have 2,000 employees. 800 of them are beneficiaries of TPS.
Then, Suzzi invited Vlad Tlali to speak of the New York Immigration Coalition. “The TPS is a vital immigration status that has been a central component of our immigration policy since 1999. Today, more than one million people in the country depend on TPS to remain here,” said Tlali of New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC).
«In New York, we talked about 86,000 people, many of them immigrants. Here in Long Island, there are many primary care workers, health personnel and people who have kept the state standing from the pandemic. TPS is a matter of equity and justice ».
«The true solution to this problem is, in fact, promulgate laws. The way to achieve this is to convince the elected officials that this can be done in a responsible manner, ”said the Suozzi representative.
«We can ensure the border, we can fix the asylum system and we can treat people as human beings. We must negotiate to achieve this that satisfies the different political concerns of the different parties, but that is also up to our ideals ».
Democratic congressman Tom Suozzi continues to work tirelessly in Washington, DC to ensure a real, durable and bipartisan immigration reform pack, he emphasized.
It should be noted that this Thursday it was known that a federal judge failed against the plans of the Trump administration and extended the temporary protection status (TPS) for 60,000 immigrants from Central America and Asia, including people from Nepal, Honduras and Nicaragua.
The decision of Judge Trina Thompson, of the Court of the Northern District of California, postpones the terminations of the TPS for people from these countries until November, when a hearing will be held to analyze the bottom of the case, press media reported.
