FIGHTING FOR
PERMANENT RESIDENCY
aboutus
The Massachusetts TPS Committee has been organized in order to prepare TPS recipients for the future and to fight for Permanent Residency. Created by Salvadoran recipients, the committee is now formed of supporters from Nepal, Haiti, and other TPS holding countries, as well as U.S citizens. Our number one supporters are our children, U.S born, who play a role in the committee as well. The MA TPS Committee is fighting for the recipients of TPS and their children.
The MA TPS Committee is now looking for Senators and Congressmen support. With various trips to Washington, our future plans are to send our testimonies to the newly elected in the Fall of 2018. We plan on striving for the Permanent Residency as we believe TPS recipients have earned their right to ask for it.
WHAT IS TPS?
TPS (Temporary Protected Status), is a humanitarian protection designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security to individuals whose countries are suffering from long lasting conditions that prevent them from returning back safely. Also, TPS could be designated in certain circumstances, where a country is not able to handle the return of its nationals adequately. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the affected country may also receive TPS.
The conditions that might warrant TPS designation are:
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Ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war)
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An environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic
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Other extraordinary and temporary conditions
TPS recipients are entitled to work authorization, protection from removal, and maybe travel authorization. TPS status requires periodic renewal. The renewal is determined by the Department of Homeland Security which determines whether the conditions permit the return of these individuals. According to that decision a renewal could be granted. To travel abroad, TPS recipients should apply for, and be granted an Advance Parole, before leaving the United States.
WHY NOT APPLY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCY?
TPS holders are not eligible to apply for permanent residency. TPS is a temporary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status. If eligible, TPS holders are allowed to apply to other immigration benefit or protection.
WHY SUPPORT PERMANENT RESIDENCY?
We understand TPS is created as a temporary humanitarian solution to complex situations. However, many TPS holders have been living and working in the United States for many years. Some have been under TPS status for 20 - 30 years. These TPS recipients are business owners, home owners, tax payers, and have families as well as US born children. They are an integral part of the American Society and a large contributor to its economy. TPS recipients need the support for permanent residency so they can finally exit the state of suspension they have been living, and as an integral part of the society, be able to participate more fully and securely in the community.
WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF TPS?
There are approximately 325,000 TPS holders from different foreign countries who reside in the United states. Some have lived here for more than 20 years.
More than 80% of TPS holders have jobs, many have mortgages, pay taxes and work in industries crucial to the economy, such as construction, Child Care and Health Care. Collectively, TPS holders have approximately 273,000 US born children.
According to an analysis conducted by the Center for Migration Studies of New York, and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), TPS holders from El Salvador, Haiti, and Honduras constitute approximately 90% of the TPS community. Deporting all recipients of TPS from these countries will:
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Cost tax payers $3.1 billion.
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Result in a 6.9 billion reduction to Social Security and Medicare contributions over a decade.
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Cause a reduction of $4.5 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over a decade.
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Cost employers $967 million in turnover cost (The costs that employers incur when an employee leaves a position)
Ending TPS for these immigrants will not only put families at risk of separation through deportation and orphan US born children, but will also have a great impact on the economy.