Ali Bianco / MNS
WASHINGTON – As countless Ukrainians begin to leave their homes following the Russian invasion, conversations have spurred around the Capitol about President Biden potentially designating the country for Temporary Protected Status. All the while, countless Central Americans continue to face insecurity about their own status as their TPS designations hang in the balance.
“I have in the past written letters to the administration on TPS for Ukrainians and Central Americans, and I’m hoping to work with some colleagues on some TPS reforms,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).
In the days leading up to and just after the State of the Union address, many Democratic lawmakers threw their support behind extending TPS to Ukraine and continuing to reauthorize the status for Central Americans. But the increased attention on protecting Ukrainian immigrants has led to questions about why countries like those from Central America lack similar jolts of support.
“I think this is exemplary of what we’ve seen even just in broader media coverage and overall policy response, which is giving support to refugees. We should be supporting TPS for Ukrainians. But I also think what many people around the world are seeing is how Ukrainian refugees are being treated, that we are capable of treating all refugees this way,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
These affirmations for the program come one day after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced they would be adding Sudan and reauthorizing South Sudan as eligible for TPS.
“I think he should, I wrote a letter to him,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) about adding a designation for Ukraine. For Central Americans, he added, “I’m all for that. I’ve been for it, it’s been part of every package on immigration.”
More than 30 senators, including Durbin, wrote a joint letter to Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in January asking for TPS renewal for Central Americans.
DEMOCRATS ON BOARD
Ocasio-Cortez, Durbin and Kaine were joined by Democrats from both chambers who affirmed the importance of TPS designations and their extension to people in need.
“It affords them some level of protection,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas). “With the kind of instability that is happening all across the globe, we need to continue to provide as much stability as we possibly can.”
The program allows the president, via DHS, to designate citizens of countries facing armed conflict, environmental disaster or other unlivable conditions to have a direct line to immigrate to the U.S. This program is temporary, and therefore offers no pathway to permanent residence...
