(L) Guerline Jozef and (R) Murad Awawdeh
Picture: Haitian Bridge Alliance/Guerline Jozef and NYIC/Murad Awawdeh
The San Diego, CA-based Haitian Bridge Alliance and the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) on Wednesday strongly condemned the Trump administration’s termination of Non permanent Protected Standing (TPS) for about 600,000 Venezuelans residing in the USA.
“This motion, introduced by Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem, not solely jeopardizes the security and well-being of numerous people but in addition contradicts America’s world dedication to human rights and humanitarian rules,” Haitian Bridge Alliance Govt Director Guerline Josef informed Caribbean Life.
She mentioned that TPS, a humanitarian immigration program established beneath the US Immigration Act of 1990 (INA § 244), grants short-term authorized standing to nationals of designated nations experiencing ongoing armed battle, environmental disasters, or different extraordinary and short-term circumstances that make secure return unattainable.
“TPS recipients are allowed to stay and work legally in the USA at some stage in the designation,” Josef mentioned. “Right here, the revocation of TPS for Venezuelans disregards the continued humanitarian disaster in Venezuela, the place political instability, financial collapse, and widespread human rights abuses have pressured tens of millions to flee their homeland.”
In pointing to knowledge from the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), she mentioned greater than 7.7 million Venezuelans have left the nation looking for safety and a greater life, “making it one of many largest displacement crises on the planet.”
Josef mentioned the bulk—over 6.5 million folks—have been hosted in Latin American and Caribbean nations.
“Inside Venezuela, the state of affairs stays dire,” she mentioned, stating that an estimated 7.6 million individuals are in want of humanitarian help, “struggling to entry ample healthcare, diet, and important companies.
“The termination of TPS ignores these harsh realities, successfully condemning hundreds to return to life-threatening circumstances,” Josef added. “This choice is emblematic of the administration’s broader xenophobic agenda, which seeks to marginalize immigrant communities and dismantle programs of safety for essentially the most susceptible.
“It perpetuates a story that devalues the lives of these searching for security and undermines the wealthy range that strengthens our nation,” she continued. “Such actions serve solely to sow division and perpetuate systemic injustices towards marginalized populations.”
Josef mentioned the Haitian Bridge Alliance “stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan group and all TPS holders who’re being focused by insurance policies that undermine our nation’s legal guidelines, values of compassion and refuge.
“We name on Congress to take fast motion to supply everlasting safety for TPS holders and be sure that no household is pressured to return to harmful circumstances,” she mentioned. “Within the interim, we name on Congress to make use of its energy to pressure the administration to rescind its place.”
Murad Awawdeh, NYIC’s president and chief govt officer, warned that Trump’s revocation of the current extension of TPS for Venezuela “will make over a half million immigrants in danger for deportation.
“The hypocrisy of the Trump administration’s immigration coverage is on full show with this choice, as they inform folks to immigrate legally however then take away authorized standing,” Awawdeh, whose umbrella group represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights teams all through New York, additionally informed Caribbean Life.
He famous that, in New York, TPS has allowed Caribbean and different immigrant neighbors to legally work and contribute to the financial system.
Awawdeh mentioned that since New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams have been sturdy supporters of TPS for Venezuela, “we’re urging them to indicate their dedication to this program as a way for current arrivals to securely work and contribute.”
Awawdeh additionally known as on US Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer and US Home of Representatives’ Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries – each New York representatives – “to rally their colleagues in Congress to assist TPS for Venezuela.
“Our elected officers in New York should stand as much as shield all New Yorkers, and to make sure the continued well being and stability of our financial system,” he urged.
Awawdeh famous that the extension of TPS for Venezuelans was slated to run from April 3, 2025 to Oct. 2, 2026, and would have benefited an estimated 600,000 folks.
He mentioned the extension solely utilized to eligible people who’ve resided in the USA on or earlier than July 31, 2023.
“As of as we speak’s choice, recipients who started their standing in 2021 will preserve their protections by means of September, and those that started in 2023 will preserve their protections till at the least April,” Awawdeh mentioned.
