Making Temporary Refugees Return Home

Haitian ‘temporary’ refugees to test Trump’s resolve on immigration, by Ann Corcoran 4/24/17

I’ve written about ‘Temporary Protected Status’ over the years as a side issue here at RRW.  But, like the Diversity Visa Lottery, it begs for more attention from some intrepid wannabe blogger who should take on the issue as a sole priority and really do it justice.

TPS is basically a scam, it is rarely temporary! The US, in its humanitarian zeal (supposedly), allows certain nationals who got in to the US in some other way (usually illegally) to stay if their home country cannot take them back for some extenuating reason (big storm, earthquake, civil war). Under TPS, these nationals become temporary refugees allowed to stay and work in America.

Then every 18 months, a TPS designation is extended for another 18 months and this can go on for years. Click here to learn more and see the countries eligible for this special deal right now.  Note that Hondurans have had their special status extended ever since 1999.  El Salvador since 2001.

And, since we have such a huge refugee program from Somalia, I have never understood why Somalis have TPS.

At one point, during the Bush presidency (when he was extending again some TPS designation), I came to understand that those countries, like El Salvador, loved this program because their people working legally in the US were propping up the Salvadoran economy with their remittances (money sent out of the US economy to the third world country).

Here is the latest from the Miami Herald.  You see what happens, after years and years in the US, these people have jobs, houses, kids in school and they use that argument—you can’t possibly be so mean to send us back now—against us!

BTW, all of those on TPS had their hopes dashed when the ‘Gang of Eight’ legislation failed in Congress a few years ago. They were hoping for amnesty so they would never have to leave.

Miami Herald: The Trump administration is recommending sending tens of thousands of Haitians back to their homeland because it believes conditions have significantly improved in the disaster-prone, poverty-stricken nation.

James McCament, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said Temporary Protected Status, the immigration relief that has allowed Haitians to live and work freely in the United States, should be terminated. The Obama administration granted the status following the earthquake, which left more than 300,000 dead, 1.5 million injured and an equal number homeless.

“Conditions in Haiti no longer support its designation for TPS,” McCament said in a memo to U.S. Department of Homeland Secretary John F. Kelly obtained by the Miami Herald.

McCament’s recommendations came as a surprise to many, including Haitian and immigration advocates who have been pushing for the extension of TPS before July 22, when it is up for renewal.

Help OUR economy?  Someone should do a study about how much of our money leaves our economy through remittances!

“TPS beneficiaries contribute greatly to our economy,” said attorney Cheryl Little, whose Americans for Immigrant Justice organization also represents some of the estimated 300,000 Central Americans who have been enjoying the special status since 1999. “They are growing our economy and to suddenly say, ‘There is a new sheriff in town, pack your bags,’ it’s heartless and it’s stupid.”

The Center for American Progress had been closely monitoring the decision on Haiti because it’s the “first test of this administration’s commitment to handle TPS determinations in an apolitical manner that respects human rights and the letter of the law,” said Tom Jawetz, the center’s vice president for immigration policy.

It is a test for CAP and a test for those of us who supported Trump’s campaign promises! Continue here for lots more at the Miami Herald clearly advocating for Haitians to stay!

One last thing! TPS allows those so designated to live and work here as if they were legal immigrants. And, it allows them to get drivers’ licenses.  It does not allow them to vote, but with drivers’ licenses, who is going to stop them? Share this:

https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/2017/04/24/haitian-temporary-refugees-to-test-trumps-resolve-on-immigration/