ENGLISH

Save TPS Toolkit 2017

#SOMOSWeAre

Introduction

This toolkit titled “Save TPS” has been developed by Alianza Americas and is a compilation of

resources designed for the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) beneficiaries, their families,

allies, faith communities, labor unions, employers, business owners, and community-based

organizations interested in carrying out actions that may contribute to achieving an extension of

18 months for people protected under TPS relief from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and

Nicaragua.

“Save TPS” offers a number of tools that you can use in advocacy efforts with Senators and

members of Congress, they are key leaders with the power to identify, introduce, and approve

changes to current laws to allow TPS beneficiaries to adjust their status to permanent residents.

Similarly, elected officials can be encouraged to advise the Secretary of Homeland Security to

grant a further extension of 18 months of protection to these countries. It is quite possible that

some elected official and their staffers are unaware of what TPS is and the impacts of

terminating the program. This is why a number of tools are designed to educate, alert, and

encourage elected officials to use their power and leadership to save TPS and provide

permanent relief to the more than 300,000 people currently receiving the benefits this program.

We are confident that in your locality there is the need to organize, mobilize, and give leadership

spaces to TPS recipients; in this toolbox you will find resources that will help you work with the

community and above all give them a voice and opportunities for action in the defense,

protection, and support of TPS recipients and their families. Here you will find talking points,

statistics on the impact of terminating TPS, guidance on how to create effective testimonies,

sample letter to request a meeting with your elected officials, guidelines to prepare for a

legislative visit, steps to protect yourself from scams by notaries and certain unscrupulous

lawyers seeking to take advantage of the crisis, etc.

This toolbox also gives you the opportunity to take action through social networks, you will find

example of messages that you can share on Twitter and Facebook, including several graphics

you can publish and share with your networks.

Finally, if you need to contact one of our organizational members, you will find a directory with

the necessary information. They are developing local campaigns to save TPS and advocating

for permanent residence. Visit their offices, learn, participate, commit to action, and above all,

do not isolate yourself; working collectively we can achieve keeping families together.

Alianza Americas is a network of immigrant organizations from Latin America and the Caribbean

in the United States. Its forty-five organizational members represent more than 100,000 families

in 16 states of the United States. It is the only national organization in the United States that has

its roots in Latin American and Caribbean immigrant communities, working transnationally to

create an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable way of life.

#SOMOSWeAre

Table of Contents

Resources for Advocacy and Community Engagement/ Recursos para la abogacía y la participación

comunitaria - (Bilingual tools)

1. Frequently Asked Questions About TPS

2. Countries Receiving Temporary Protection or Notified Recent Termination of TPS Designation

3. Impacts of Ending TPS

4. Temporary Protection for Vulnerable Migrants Saves Lives and Should be Continued- Alianza

Americas ED statement

5. Sample Meeting Request with Members of Congress and Senate

6. Talking points

Resources for Education and Organizing/ Recursos para educar y organizar (see English/Spanish)

1. Respuestas a Preguntas Frecuentes de la Comunidad sobre lo que está Pasando con el TPS (Spanish)

2. ¡Salvemos al TPS y Aboguemos por la Residencia Permanente para los Beneficiarios del TPS Ahora! (Spanish)

3. ¿Cómo evitar ser víctima de estafas a manos de Notarios? (Spanish)

4. ¿Qué es un testimonio personal? (Spanish)

5. Consentimiento informado para dar autorización de utilizar su testimonio en apoyo a salvar el TPS (Spanish)

6. Puntos de discurso-Talking Points (English/Spanish)

7. Directorio-Directory (English/Spanish)

8. Cómo Prepararse y Pasos durante una Visita Legislativa/How to Prepare and steps for a legislative visit. (English/Spanish)

9. La Cancelacion del TPS Que debo saber (Spanish)

10. El Salvador Aviso a la comunidad (Spanish)

11. TPS bills comparison chart (Jan. 2018) by Raben Group (English/Spanish)

Resources for e-Organizing via Social Media/ Recursos para organización en línea y redes sociales

1. ¡Llamado a la acción, Salvemos al TPS!

2. Call to Action, Save TPS!

3. Graphics/Graficas (English only)

#SaveTPS

Resources for Advocacy and Community Engagement/

Recursos para la abogacía y la participación comunitaria

Frequent Asked Questions About Temporary Protected Status

What is Temporary Protected Status? Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, is a temporary, renewable program that provides relief from deportation and access to a work permit for certain migrants in a small number of countries who may not meet the legal definition of refugee but who cannot safely return to their country of origin.

When TPS started? TPS was established by Congress through the Immigration Act of 1990. Congress established a procedure by which the Attorney General may provide TPS to immigrants in the United States who are temporarily unable to safely return to their home country. On March 1, 2003, pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, authority to designate a country (or part thereof) for TPS, and to extend and terminate TPS designations, was transferred from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security. In 1990, when Congress enacted the TPS statute, it also granted TPS for one year to nationals from El Salvador who were residing in the United States.

What are TPS benefits? TPS provides employment authorization and protection from deportation for immigrants from designated countries, within designated period.

Why a country is designated for TPS? Under current law, the Homeland Security Secretary may designate a country for TPS when one of three circumstances occurs:

• There is “ongoing armed conflict” that creates unsafe conditions for returning nationals;

• There has been an earthquake, flood, drought, epidemic, or other environmental disaster that makes the state temporarily unable to accept the return of its nationals, and the state has requested TPS designation; or

• “Extraordinary and temporary” conditions in a state prevent its nationals from returning safely.

Who decides which country will be designated TPS status? The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, can issue TPS for periods of 6 to 18 months and can extend these periods if conditions do not change in the designated country.

How someone from a designated country becomes eligible for TPS? U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country may also be granted TPS.

How eligible nationals may apply for TPS? To obtain TPS, eligible migrants report to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), pay a processing fee, and receive registration documents and a work authorization. The major requirements for migrants seeking TPS are proof of eligibility (e.g., a passport issued by the designated country, continuous physical presence in the United States since the date TPS went into effect, timely registration, and being otherwise admissible as an immigrant). The regulation specifies grounds of inadmissibility that cannot be waived, including those relating to criminal convictions and the persecution of others.

Are TPS beneficiaries granted Citizenship? TPS is a temporary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status. Even if you were to live and work legally in the United States as a TPS beneficiary for many years, there is no route to permanent residence (i.e., a green card) that will follow simply from a grant of TPS. However, registration for TPS does not prevent you from: (1) applying for nonimmigrant status, (2) filing for adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition and (3) applying for any other immigration benefit or protection for which you may be eligible.

What needs to be done to allow a path to lawful permanent residency? The TPS provision in the INA states that a bill or amendment that provides for the adjustment to lawful temporary or legal permanent resident (LPR) status for any migrant receiving TPS requires a supermajority vote in the Senate (i.e., three-fifths of all Senators) voting affirmatively. Provisions that would have allowed nationals from various countries that have had TPS to adjust to LPR status had been introduced in past Congresses, but not enacted.

What happens if TPS is terminated for a designated country? DHS has made clear that information it collects when a migrant registers for TPS may be used to institute exclusion or deportation proceedings upon the denial, withdrawal, or expiration of TPS.

Why former TPS recipients could be deported if TPS is allowed to expire or withdrawn? Upon the denial, withdrawal, or expiration of TPS the foreign nationals lack proper immigration authorization to remain in the country, there three kinds of violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act: (1) those who overstay their nonimmigrant visas, (2) those who enter the country surreptitiously without inspection, and (3) those who are admitted on the basis of fraudulent documents. In all three instances, those individuals are in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and subject to removal.

How the Executive Orders of the new administration may impact TPS recipients? On January 25, 2017 President Trump signed Executive Order 13768, Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States, which was later implemented through a memorandum signed by the DHS Secretary on February 20, 2017.These executive actions dramatically increased the universe of immigrants subject to deportation, eliminating the Obama Administration’s enforcement priorities and essentially making all immigrants subject to deportation. Consequently, while the 300,000 Salvadoran, Honduran, and Haitian TPS holders are currently protected from deportation, upon termination of TPS, these individuals will not only become subject to deportation, but will be at serious risk because DHS has extensive and updated records on their place residence and work, due to the frequent re-registration requirements of the program.

Are there any other countries requesting TPS relief? Yes, while there is no publically available list of countries currently petitioning for TPS status, three countries are known to have made recent requests: Pakistan, Guatemala, and the Philippines. A Pakistani advocacy group requested TPS following severe flooding in Pakistan in 2010. Guatemala has requested TPS on numerous occasions, with the most recent request in 2012 following an earthquake. The government of the Philippines requested TPS following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 through a “note verbale” to the State Department. DHS at times responds quickly to these requests or may let months (or even years) pass without providing a response

Who ordered the termination of TPS for Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leon? In September 22, 2016 the Obama administration announced the final designation of TPS benefits for recipients from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leon. After 27 years of relief from removal, Liberians TPS recipients received a six months extension to allow for orderly transition before termination in May 21, 2017. There are approximately two thousand TPS beneficiaries from Liberia.

Haitian TPS, what do we know? In May 22, 2017 the Trump administration announced a six-month extension effective July 23, 2017 through January 22, 2018 for orderly transition before termination in January 2018. The earthquake in Haiti in 2010 left an estimated 1.5 million homeless, 300,000 injured, and claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and possibly more (the death toll estimates vary widely from 46,000 to 316,000). Most experts concur that Haiti is still not in a position to receive the TPS-holders, and they currently provide a key source of foreign revenue that supports many families in Haiti.

Resources: Temporary Protected Status, USCIS https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues, Congressional Research Service Migration Policy Institute: Temporary Protected Status in the United States: A Grant of Humanitarian Relief that Is Less than Permanent Liberian DED: A Rebuttal (Guest Commentary) http://theliberianjournal.com/index.php?st=news&sbst=details&rid=963 The New Yorker http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-harrowing-turning-point-for-haitian-immigrants

Countries Receiving Temporary Protection or Notified Recent Termination of TPS Designation This table shows the countries whose nationals in the United States currently benefit or were recently terminated from TPS relief. The two countries highlighted in yellow are await a decision from the Secretary of Homeland Security on whether a new extension will be granted. If not, temporary relief for that country will terminate by January 8, 2018.

Sources: Migration Policy Institute: Temporary Protected Status in the United States: A Grant of Humanitarian Relief that Is Less than Permanent

Congressional Research Service: Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues.

US. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Country Year TPS Status Granted TPS Designated Through Cause of Designation Years w/ Relief

from Deportation Designated by Recipients

Liberia March 1991 Terminated 05/21/2017 War and Ebola outbreak 27 George H.W. Bush 2,160

Somalia September 17, 1991 September 17, 2018 War, droughts and famine 27 George H.W. Bush 270

Sudan November 4, 1997 Terminates effective November 2, 2018 War 20 Bill Clinton 450

Honduras January 5, 1999 Extended through July 5, 2018 Hurricane Mitch 18 Bill Clinton 57,000

Nicaragua January 5, 1999 Terminates effective January 5, 2019 Hurricane Mitch 18 Bill Clinton 2,550

El Salvador March 9, 2001 Terminates effective September 9, 2019 Earthquakes 16 George W. Bush 195,000

South Sudan November 3, 2011

Extended through May 2, 2019 War 6 Barack Obama 75-200

Haiti January 12, 2010 January 12, 2011

Terminates effective July 22, 2019 Earthquake 7 Barack Obama 50,000

Syria March 29, 2012 June 17, 2013 March 31, 2018 War 5 Barack Obama 5,800

Guinea 2014 Terminated 05/21/2017 Ebola outbreak 3 Barack Obama 930 Sierra Leon 2014 Terminated 05/21/2017 Ebola outbreak 3 Barack Obama 1,180

Nepal June 24, 2015 June 24, 2018 Earthquake 2 Barack Obama 8,950 Yemen September 3, 2015 September 3, 2018 War 2 Barack Obama 1,000

Economic Impacts of Ending TPS

(The following information was taken from the report ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS BY SALVADORAN, HONDURAN, AND HAITIAN TPS HOLDERS The Cost to Taxpayers, GDP, and Businesses of Ending TPS by Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), published in April 2017.)

Some of the key findings are:

• There are approximately 312,550 TPS holders from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua currently living in the U.S

• The Center for American Progress (CAP) estimates that the cost of deporting one immigrant is $10,070. By multiplying the number of individuals who currently hold TPS by the cost of deportation per individual, it would cost the federal government $3.1 billion dollars to deport all TPS holders from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti.

• Terminating TPS for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti will have significant and far reaching economic impacts on our nation’s economy.

• Removing these individuals will cost taxpayers over $3 billion, and the inability of these individuals to work will result in over $45 billion in lost GDP over a decade and $6.9 billion in lost Social Security and Medicare contributions over a decade.

• Moreover, employers will incur close to $1 billion in turnover costs for the wholesale termination of this population. The United States benefits immensely when immigrants can work.

• The loss in GDP and turnover costs would be felt most acutely in the locations where Salvadorans, Hondurans, and Haitians are primarily located, including major metropolitan areas in Florida, New York, California, Texas, Maryland, and Virginia.

Terminating Haitian TPS would lead to:

$2.8 billion

$428 million

$60 million

$468 million

in GDP reduction over a decade

in lost Social Security and Medicare contributions

over a decade

in turnover costs for businesses

additional costs to taxpayers in terms of

enforcement.

In Sum, ending TPS would not only harm families. It would be bad for business and bad for the economy.

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Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION 6 June 2017 Contact Person:

Cristina Garcia, (877) 683-2908, ext. 3 Email: cgarcia@alianzaamericas.org

Temporary Protection for Vulnerable Migrants Saves Lives and Should be Continued

TPS beneficiaries should be allowed to seek Permanent Residency

Chicago, IL – Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly has declared his intention to end a program known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that has allowed some people from certain countries to live in the United States, in the wake of en environmental or political crisis in their home country. If this program is ended, it will affect individuals and families from Haiti, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua who have lived and worked in the United States for many years, and many of whom have put down roots in their communities. Alianza Americas Director, Oscar Chacón had the following reaction to Secretary Kelly’s statements: Ending these temporary protection programs would be a grave error. It would rip families apart, put people in harm’s way, and take hundreds of thousands of productive workers off of our tax rolls, costing the US millions in tax revenues. In addition, it would harm and potentially destabilize the already-vulnerable countries of origin. The economic support the TPS beneficiaries and other immigrants send to their families in the form of remittances represents the largest source of foreign income in many of these countries. Many of the beneficiaries of these programs have now lived in the United States for many years. They have raised families, and put down roots in their communities. They have also registered regularly with the United States government, and provided extensive background information. Rather than ending the programs, the Trump administration should support a legislative solution that would allow current TPS beneficiaries to request permanent residency visas. Perhaps even more importantly, the Trump administration should be investing in policies that address the economic, social and political factors that cause people to leave their homes and seek safety in the United States. Our shared goal should be to transform the countries of origin into places where the majority of the population will want to stay. TPS beneficiaries, organized immigrant communities and our allies will redouble our efforts to reach these goals. We invite the governments of countries of origin to support their nationals living abroad and help us in this organizing effort. Alianza Americas is a network of Latin American and Caribbean immigrant organizations in the United States. Its forty-five organizational members represent more than 100,000 families across 16 states in the United States. It is the only national organization in the U.S. that is rooted in Latino/Caribbean immigrant communities and works transnationally to create an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable way of life.

###

June 12, 2017

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart(R-FL)

District 25th, Florida

436 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515, via email: sarah.hodgkins@mail.house.gov

Dear Congressman Diaz-Balart:

On behalf of the [ESCRIBA EL NOMBRE DE SU ORGANIZACION], a member of Alianza Americas, I am

writing to request a meeting on [ESCRIBA LA FECHA], in your [INDIQUE A DONDE PIDE LA REUNION

EN LA OFICINA DE DISTRITO O EN WASHINGTON, DC] We are deeply concerned on the future on the

Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and the shattering impacts of ending TPS relief for El Salvador. Haiti,

Honduras and Nicaragua, We would love discussing some reflections and sharing testimonials from TPS

recipients and their families.

Combined, there are more than 300 thousand TPS holders from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua

currently living in the U.S. These are our classmates, co-workers and neighbors. They have been living and

working in the United States legally for years and have put down roots. Many of them have U.S. citizen children,

contribute to the U.S. labor market and economy, and send money to impoverished communities back in their

countries of origin

We are urging TPS beneficiaries, faith based communities, labor unions, employers and all people of conscience

to contact the White House, Congress, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State and tell

them that TPS for Haiti, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua is in our national interest. Ending TPS would be

bad for business, bad for families, and a violation of our obligations to protect the vulnerable.

[INCLUYA UN PARRAFO QUE BREVEMENTE DESCRIBA A SU ORGANIZACIÓN]

Alianza Americas is a network of Latin American and Caribbean immigrant organizations in the United States. Its

forty-five organizational members represent more than 100,000 families across 16 states in the United States. It is

the only national organization in the U.S. that is rooted in Latino/Caribbean immigrant communities and works

transnationally to create an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable way of life.

Thank you for your consideration. We will be in touch with your office regarding this request, in the meantime if

you have questions or comments the contact person for this matter is [ESCRIBA EL NOMBRE, CORREO

ELECTRONICO Y TELEFONO DE LA PERSONA CONTACTO]

Sincerely,

SU NOMBRE

NOMBRE DE LA ORGANIZACION

TELEFONO

E-MAIL

WEBSITE

Talking Points on Save TPS for El Salvador,

Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua

#SaveTPS Talking Points

Build a complete narrative around the urgent need to #SaveTPS by incorporating talking points from

each of these categories, in this order. Lead with shared values, shed light on systemic failures and

shared challenges, and end with a solution.

1. LEAD WITH SHARED VALUES:

• The United States values the rights of people everywhere to live free from fear for their safety

and the security of their families.

• The Trump administration has underscored these values by investing $1.8B in Central America

to begin to work towards stability, security, and economic growth in what has been a very volatile

region.

• But at the same time, the administration has signaled its intentions to end Temporary Protected

Status (TPS), a nearly 30-year-old program, which has allowed more than 300K people—most

from Central America and the Caribbean— to avoid the instability and insecurity of their home

countries and instead build safe, productive lives with permission to live and work in the United

States.

2. DISCUSS SYSTEMIC FAILURES:

• TPS was created as a stop-gap measure nearly 30 years ago because our immigration system

did not have a way to support people who were in the US when something catastrophic—like

war, famine or a natural disaster—happened in their home country and prevented their safe

return.

• Over the years, as conditions in their home countries have not improved, many TPS

beneficiaries have stayed, with our permission, and built lives in the US. They have worked hard

(88% participate in the labor force), built businesses (11% are self-employed), purchased homes

(30% have mortgages), and raised families (Salvadoran, Honduran and Haitian TPS holders are

parents to 273K US-citizen children). Every 18 months, they have re-registered with the

government and been subject to comprehensive security screenings to renew their TPS status.

• For nearly 30 years, Congress has failed to take the steps to update this intentionally “stop-gap”

measure into a permanent immigration program. TPS families have lived in limbo, but they have

complied with the rules and, until now, have never been asked to leave.

Talking Points on Save TPS for El Salvador, Haiti,

Honduras and Nicaragua

• By the end of 2017, TPS programs for Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Haiti will come up

for renewal, and the Department of Homeland Security has signaled that they will not be

renewed. One program, for Sudan, has already been cancelled.

3. INCLUDE SHARED CHALLENGES:

• Families: Sending TPS beneficiaries back to the unstable conditions in their home countries

presents grave concerns for families. Parents will be faced with impossible decisions about

whether to be separated from their US citizen children or bring them into harm’s way. Those who

opt to return home will likely be subject to violence and the targets of extortion, a reality that saps

$600M from families in El Salvador and Honduras each year.

• Economy: Cancelling TPS also has negative economic effects for the United States. TPS

holders are important parts of our country’s healthcare, construction, and childcare workforces. It

would cost US employers nearly $1B to replace these workers and retrain new ones—and it

would cost US taxpayers $3B to deport them.

• Security and Stability: Cancelling TPS also compromises the remittance money that TPS

holders have sent to support family and friends over the years. Removing this economic lifeline—

which represents a 17% of the GDP in El Salvador and Honduras—where few other economic

opportunities exist will pushes people to either organized crime or to migrate to the United

States, further destabilizing the region.

4. END WITH SOLUTIONS:

• Ending TPS is not a practical, nor is it a humane solution, especially as the net result would be

even more destabilization of the region and migration trends to the United States.

• But to simply continuing to offer temporary and transitory reprieves to people who have become

a permanent part of our communities and economies is not a solution either. Congress should be

pressured to do what is right and formalize what these individuals are: Permanent residents of

the US.

• In the meantime, DHS should extend the program until Congress passes a lasting solution for a

population who have earned the condition of permanent residents in our country.

Here is a short-hand metaphor to incorporate these elements in a brief message:

Our immigration system is out-of-synch with our nation’s commitment to supporting people in

humanitarian crises: TPS was always a Band-Aid solution to this larger systemic problem. Now, in

potentially cancelling this lifesaving program, we are removing that Band-Aid even as the wound has

not yet healed. For nearly 30 years, Congress has failed to build a permanent solution for families in

limbo. An extension of TPS is an important start in building an immigration system that both serves

our economic needs and honors our humanitarian responsibilities.

#SaveTPS

Resources for Education and Organizing/ Recursos para educar y organizar

#SOMOSWeAre

Respuestas a Preguntas Frecuentes de la Comunidad sobre

lo que está Pasando con el TPS

¿Qué está Pasando con el TPS?

La administración del Presidente Obama en septiembre de 2016 y la actual administración Trump en mayo de

2017 han dado paso a una serie de medidas sobre el futuro del programa conocido como Estatus de Protección

Temporal (TPS). Las medidas a la fecha se han manifestado por medio de anuncios de culminación de la

protección e informando que las personas beneficiarias de TPS de ciertos países se preparen a ser repatriadas.

¿Qué países han recibido estos anuncios de terminación de la protección del TPS?

Los anuncios de descontinuar los beneficios de protección ante deportación han sido anunciados a personas

beneficiarias de TPS de los países siguientes: Guinea, Haití, Liberia y Sierra León.

¿Cuándo sucedieron estos anuncios y quien los dio a conocer?

Durante la administración del Presidente Obama, el 22 de septiembre de 2016, el Departamento de Seguridad

Nacional de los Estados Unidos (DHS), bajo el liderazgo del entonces Secretario Jeh Johnson anunció la decisión

de extender los beneficios de TPS para Guinea, Liberia y Sierra León por 6 meses con el propósito de una

transición ordenada antes de que la anterior designación de TPS de estos tres países fuera terminada. El

amparo de TPS para dichos países culmino el 21 de mayo de 2017. El 22 de mayo de 2017, a dos meses antes

de la finalización de la designación actual de TPS para Haití, la administración del Presidente Trump por medio

del actual Secretario de Seguridad Nacional John Kelly anuncia que Haití ha recibido una notificación de

extensión temporal por seis meses pero que son para permitir que las personas beneficiadas bajo el programa

se preparen a ser repatriadas a su nación.

¿Quiénes están decidiendo e implementando estas medidas hacia el TPS?

Hay varias agencias federales que están involucradas en analizar y decidir el futuro del programa TPS para cada

país, estas son la Oficina de Ciudadanía e Inmigración (USCIS), el Departamento de Seguridad Doméstica (DHS)

y el Departamento de Estado. Por ejemplo, en abril de 2015 el Director interino del USCIS, James McCament,

envió una carta al Secretario del DHS John Kelly aconsejándole culmine la protección para Haití porque

considera que el país se ha recuperado del desastre ocasionado por los terremotos de enero 2010. El secretario

del DHS pide al Secretario de Estado que haga indagaciones y le presente un reporte para confirmar la petición

del USCIS. Basado en ese reporte el DHS tomara una decisión final en enero de 2018 y comunicara al USCIS ya

sea una extensión de la protección por otros 6 a 18 meses o para ordenar la culminación de la protección y la

repatriación de los haitianos con TPS.

#SOMOSWeAre

Respuestas a Preguntas Frecuentes de la Comunidad sobre

lo que está Pasando con el TPS

¿Porque se dio fin al TPS de Guinea, Liberia y Sierra León?

Bajo la administración del Presidente Obama, el DHS reviso el reporte presentado el entonces secretario de

estado John Kerry el cual dijo haber constatado que las condiciones en Guinea, Liberia y Sierra Leona ya no

apoyan su designación para TPS. Estos países fueron designados TPS por diferentes razones, pero un particular

hay una causa que los tres países tienen en común, están sumergidos en un conflicto armado con violentos

impactos hacia la población civil. Otro de los factores que contribuyeron a la designación de TPS fue la

transmisión generalizada del virus Ebola en los tres países. Pero de acuerdo al reporte del secretario de estado

estas causas han sido resueltas por lo que ya no impide que los nacionales regresen con seguridad a sus

países.

¿Que hemos escuchado del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de la Administración Trump?

Luego de una visita a Haiti, el Secretario de Seguridad Doméstica John Kelly, manifestó el pasado 1 de junio

su intención de poner fin a la protección migratoria otorgado a ciertos grupos de personas de diferentes

países bajo el programa conocido como TPS. Manifestó que él considera que este programa debería ser

temporal y aplicado bajo la ley como tal. Para el caso específico de los haitianos dijo: “deberían empezar a

pensar ahora en lo que sucederá en un futuro no muy lejano, pero no quiero saber si [el TPS] se va a

extender o no en este momento ". Asimismo, agrego que una solución a detener la deportación de los

beneficiarios del TPS se encuentra en las manos del Congreso estadounidense.

¿Cuál es el posible impacto de la declaración del Secretario del DHS John Kelly?

De efectivamente poner fin a dichos programas de protección, importantes segmentos de la población de

Haití, El Salvador, Honduras y Nicaragua que han residido en los Estados Unidos de América, protegidos bajo

el TPS; serían los más afectados. Se estima hay unas 312,550 personas amparadas bajo el TPS para los países

arriba indicados. Poner fin a los programas de protección sería un grave error. Tendría el efecto de amenazar

el bienestar de cientos de miles de hogares, separar familias, y poner a riesgo las vidas de las personas

beneficiarias. Además de afectar a miles de trabajadores cuyas contribuciones tributarias aportan millones de

dólares a las arcas públicas de los Estados Unidos de América, se infringiría un grave daño a los países de

origen de estas poblaciones. Los apoyos económicos que estas personas envían a sus familiares, conocidos

como remesas, representan la más importante fuente de ingresos extranjeros en estos países.

#SOMOSWeAre

Respuestas a Preguntas Frecuentes de la Comunidad sobre

lo que está Pasando con el TPS

¿Qué significado tiene el impacto de la decisión del Secretario del DHS para El Salvador,

Haití, Honduras y Nicaragua?

Sin duda este es un mensaje claro de alerta ante lo que vamos identificando como la culminación de la

protección del TPS para todos los países que al momento reciben este alivio. Indica que la administración

actual no está realizando una evaluación amplia de la situación frágil que enfrentan los países que se han

beneficiado del TPS. Refleja la posición política de la actual administración ante las comunidades inmigrantes

que han vivido por décadas en los Estados Unidos.

¿Porque esta decisión pasa sobre los derechos de la comunidad beneficiaria del TPS?

Los beneficiarios de estos programas han vivido en los Estados Unidos durante muchos años. Han criado

familias y han echado raíces profundas en sus comunidades. Además, son personas que han cumplido con los

requisitos de registración periódica ante el gobierno de los Estados Unidos, y han proporcionado una amplia

información de antecedentes.

¿Cuál es el mensaje que debemos hacer llegar a la Casa Blanca, el Congreso, DHS y

Departamento de Estado?

Los programas de protección migratoria temporal deberían ser mantenidos, los beneficiarios del TPS

deberían de poder solicitar Residencia Permanente. En lugar de poner fin a estos programas, la

administración Trump debería apoyar una solución legislativa que permita a los actuales beneficiarios del TPS

solicitar visas de residencia permanente. En adición, y quizás de mucha más importancia, la Administración

Trump debería de apoyar generosamente la adopción de políticas públicas en campos diversos que puedan

transformar los países de origen de estas personas de manera que se conviertan en lugares donde la vasta

mayoría de ciudadanos quieran quedarse. Las personas beneficiarias de TPS deberían redoblar esfuerzos en

función de las dos metas antes mencionadas.

¿Qué debemos pedirles a los gobiernos de Haití, El Salvador, Honduras y Nicaragua?

Los gobiernos de los países de origen deberían apoyar a sus connacionales en sus propios esfuerzos

organizativos y de incidencia ciudadana. Que expresen a la administración Trump que los programas de

protección migratoria temporal deberían ser mantenidos Que informen de manera responsable al

Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos sobre las condiciones de inestabilidad en sus países y los

impactos de deportar a más de trescientas mil personas amparadas con el TPS. Que no oculten que todos

los días cientos de personas migran de manera forzada para sobrevivir and ayudar a que sus familias

sobrevivan.

Para más información visite nuestra página electrónica www.alianzaamericas.org

síganos en Facebook y Twitter

#SOMOSWeAre

¡Salvemos al TPS y Aboguemos por la Residencia Permanente para

los Beneficiarios del TPS Ahora!

¡Únete a la lucha!

¿Porque es urgente que te unas y tomes acción?

• El 21 de mayo de 2017 Departamento de Seguridad Nacional puso fin a la protección de TPS

para tres países africanos Guinea, Liberia y Sierra León.

• El 22 mayo de 2017 anuncio una extensión de seis meses para beneficiarios de TPS de Haití

pidiendo se preparen a regresar a su país.

• El 1 de junio de 2017 el Secretario de Seguridad Nacional John Kelly declaro que el TPS es

temporal y que la gente amparada bajo el programa debe prepararse a retornar a sus países.

• Estos acontecimientos anuncian un panorama de alerta y muy incierto para El Salvador,

Honduras y Nicaragua.

• De ponerse un fin al amparo del TPS, estas personas se convierten en prioridad de

deportación según las órdenes ejecutivas del 25 de enero de 2017.

• Un posible anuncio de cancelación del TPS para Honduras y Nicaragua podría conocerse en

noviembre de 2017. Para El Salvador se tendrá noticias en enero 2018.

¿Cuál es el impacto de finalizar el amparo del TPS?

• Notarios y abogados inescrupulosos buscaran aprovecharse del temor y falta de información

de la población beneficiaria del TPS para estafarles.

• Hay aproximadamente más de trescientas mil personas amparadas bajo el TPS originarios de

El Salvador, Haití, Honduras y Nicaragua.

• Separaría a niños ciudadanos estadounidenses de sus padres beneficiarios de TPS.

• Estas personas tienen profundas raíces en nuestras comunidades. Muchos tienen negocios y

propiedades.

• Retornarlos es injusto, inhumano e irrespeta las contribuciones billonarias que han aportado

por años.

• El Salvador y Honduras están abatidos por una crítica situación de violencia producida por las

pandillas y el crimen organizado.

• Haití es uno de los países más pobres del mundo, miles de personas aún viven en tiendas de

campaña, sin agua potable luego de perder sus hogares por el terremoto de 2010.

• Los gobiernos de la región no están preparados con recursos e infraestructura si llegaran a

deportar a los 195 mil salvadoreños, 50 mil haitianos, 50 mil hondureños y 2, 550

nicaragüenses.

¡NO SE QUEDE DE BRAZOS CRUZADOS! ¡Únase a salvar el TPS! ¡Aboguemos

por la residencia permanente para las personas beneficiarias del TPS!

¿Cómo evitar ser víctima de estafas a manos de Notarios?

Ante los recientes informes de culminación del programa de Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) para tres

países africanos y el anuncio de una potencial finalización del TPS para beneficiarios de Haití, es urgente

estar alerta de que hay mucha gente tratando de engañar y de robar el dinero de las personas beneficiarias

del TPS de El Salvador, Honduras y Nicaragua y que se encuentran a la espera de conocer la decisión del

Departamento de Seguridad Nacional sobre el futuro del TPS. En este documento te explicaremos como

evitar ser una víctima de estafas a manos de notarios y algunos abogados sin escrúpulos.

¿Cuáles son algunas de las estafas de inmigración más comunes?

1- Promesas falsas de Negocios locales y Notarios. Algunos negocios y notarios en su

comunidad “garantizan” que ellos pueden conseguirle beneficios como:

• Visa de turista o de trabajo

• Tarjeta de Residente o green card (mica)

• Documento de autorización de empleo

• Le aseguran que tienen relación (gente conocida) con el Servicio de Inmigración

2- Uso del nombre “INS”. ¡Esa institución ya no existe!

• El Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS por las siglas en

inglés) es la agencia que administra beneficios de inmigración.

• Toda la correspondencia oficial referente a su caso de inmigración debe llegar del USCIS

3- Sitios “.com” no son fuentes oficiales.

• Algunos sitios Web afirman estar afiliados al gobierno.

• Cuando usted esté buscando información oficial del gobierno fíjese que el nombre del sitio

Web tenga el sufijo “.gov” y no “.com”

• La dirección oficial del USCIS es www.USCIS.gov

4- Decirle que anotaran su nombre en una lista de espera para que sea de las primeras

personas en solucionar su situación

• Nadie puede en este momento obtener información oficial del DHS sobre una decisión sobre

el futuro del TPS

• No es cierto que usted se pueda anotar en ninguna lista de espera para ser de los primeros

en recibir ayuda.

• Garantizarle que le solucionaran su situación sin haber realizado un estudio riguroso de su

caso.

Consecuencias de la “ayuda” equivocada

• Resultarle en gastos innecesarios

• ¡Perder tu caso o llegar a ser deportado(a)!

Los Notarios Públicos

En los Estados Unidos el notario público es una persona que puede ser testigo (estar presente) durante la firma de documentos. Pero esa labor NO le acredita para ejercer el trabajo de un abogado de inmigración.

¿A dónde puede poner una denuncia de estafa?

Si usted o alguien que conoce ha sido víctima de una estafa, debe denunciarlo de inmediato con la Comisión

Federal de Comercio. Visite ftc.gov/queja o llame al numero 1-877-382-4357.

También puede visitar a una organización miembro Alianza Américas y le ayudaremos con la denuncia, para

una lista nacional visite www.alianzaamericas.org

¿Qué es un testimonio personal?

El término testimonio tiene una multiplicidad de usos, pero en todos los casos hace referencia al acto en

que una persona declara algo, de forma oral o escrita, frente a otra que está interesada en escucharlo

para algún efecto. En particular, siempre que se habla de un testimonio se está haciendo referencia a un

discurso acerca de algo que sucedió y del cual el orador fue protagonista o testigo. Alguien que da un

testimonio personal describe a los que toman las decisiones, o a la gente en el poder, cómo los cambios

en una ley o política impactarán en su vida.

Nuestras vidas se ven afectadas cada día, de alguna manera, por las leyes y políticas de nuestro gobierno

federal, estatal y los gobiernos locales y sus organismos. Nuestras vidas mejoran o empeoran así como

cambian estos reglamentos o nuevos entran en vigor. Afortunadamente, antes que las leyes y las

políticas puedan ser alteradas, las audiencias públicas son, a menudo, para dar a los ciudadanos una

oportunidad de expresar su apoyo o preocupación sobre los cambios propuestos. Por supuesto, los

testimonios también pueden ser dados en lugares distintos a las audiencias públicas. Lo que decimos

puede hacer una diferencia.

Responda a estas preguntas mientras se prepara para su testimonio.

• ¿A quién le está hablando cuando da su testimonio?

• ¿Qué sabe usted de las actitudes de quienes toman las decisiones hacia los cambios

propuestos?

• ¿Qué rol de liderazgo o de poder tiene el legislador con el que quiere compartir su testimonio?

• ¿Cómo le afecta o le afectara en un futuro una política determinada o los cambios propuestos?

Dé ejemplos.

• ¿Cuáles son los cambios propuestos por el gobierno/legisladores y cómo impactará en su vida?

• ¿Cómo afectan o afectarán estos cambios a sus vecinos, sus amigos, su comunidad, estado, etc.?

Si puede indique estadísticas de cuánta gente podría estar, o está, afectada por esta política.

• ¿Qué es lo que sugiere en lugar de los cambios propuestos?, (si no está de acuerdo con ellos).

Después que haya encontrado repuestas a estas preguntas, prepare su testimonio. Esto significa que

haga un borrador antes de escribir lo que usted quiere decir y explicar cuáles son los puntos más

importantes de su testimonio.

CONSENTIMIENTO INFORMADO PARA DAR AUTORIZACION DE UTILIZAR

SU TESTIMONIOS EN APOYO A SALVAR EL TPS

El propósito de esta ficha de consentimiento es proveer información a las familias migrantes que

voluntariamente han aceptado dar su testimonio, darles una clara explicación de la naturaleza del

proyecto de testimonios, así como de su rol como participantes. La meta de esta entrevista es

documentar historias de personas afectadas que nos ayuden a ejercer presión e incidencia política en los

oficiales electos, para garantizar que ellos(as), estén educados(as) y debidamente informados(as) sobre

las realidades de las personas beneficiarias del TPS y sus familias, de los impactos negativos si se

decide cancelar el alivio del TPS y porque es importante otorgar un camino a la residencia permanente a

dichas personas.

Si usted decide dar su testimonio, se le pedirá responder preguntas específicas sobre su historia. La

participación en este esfuerzo es estrictamente voluntaria. NO vamos a publicar su nombre completo,

eso es confidencial. Pero su historia la vamos a compartir con miembros del Congreso, el Senado, en las

redes sociales y con los medios de prensa.

Si tiene alguna duda sobre este proyecto de testimonios, puede hacer preguntas en cualquier momento

durante su participación en él. Igualmente, puede retirarse del proyecto en cualquier momento sin que

eso lo perjudique en ninguna forma. Si alguna de las preguntas durante la entrevista le parece

incómodas, tiene usted el derecho de hacérselo saber a la persona que le está entrevistando o tiene

derecho de no responderlas. Desde ya le agradecemos su participación.

**********************************************************************************

Acepto participar voluntariamente en esta entrevista, conducida por________________. He sido

informado (a) de que la meta de este proyecto de testimonios es documentar historias de personas

afectadas que nos ayuden a ejercer presión e incidencia política en los oficiales electos, para garantizar

que ellos(as), estén educados(as) y debidamente informados(as) sobre las realidades de las personas

beneficiarias del TPS y sus familias, de los impactos negativos si se decide cancelar el alivio del TPS y

porque es importante otorgar un camino a la residencia permanente a dichas personas.

Reconozco que MI NOMBRE es estrictamente confidencial y no se va a incluir en la información que yo

provea y que mi historia no será usada para ningún otro propósito fuera de los objetivos de este

proyecto. He sido informado(a) de que puedo hacer preguntas sobre la campana de testimonios en

cualquier momento y que puedo retirarme del mismo esfuerzo cuando así lo decida, sin que esto acarree

perjuicio alguno para mi persona. De tener preguntas sobre mi participación en este estudio, puedo

contactar _____________________________________________________________________. [ESCRIBA EL NOMBRE Y TELEFONO DE LA PERSONA COORDINADORA DEL ESFUERZO].

Entiendo que una copia de esta ficha de consentimiento me será entregada, y que puedo pedir

información sobre los resultados del proyecto de testimonios del TPS. Para esto, puedo contactar

_______________________________ [ESCRIBA EL NOMBRE DE LA PERSONA COORDINADORA] al

teléfono anteriormente mencionado.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nombre del Participante Firma del Participante Fecha

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nombre del Entrevistador Firma del Entrevistador Fecha

Members and allies providing information

and support on TPS

CALIFORNIA Asociación de Salvadoreños de Los Ángeles-ASOSAL, 660 S. Bonnie Brae St. Los Angeles, CA 90057 Teléfono: (213) 483-1244 E-mail: legal@asosal.org www.asosal.org CARECEN Los Angeles

2845 West Seventh Street, Los Angeles, CA 90005 Teléfono: (213) 385-7800 www.carecen-la.org CARECEN San Francisco

3101 Mission St. Ste. 101, San Francisco, CA, 94116 Teléfono: (415) 642-4400 E-mail: Ricardo@carecensf.org www.carecensf.org

ILLINOIS Centro Romero 6216 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL, 60660 Teléfono: (773) 508-5300 Email: info@centroromero.org www.centroromero.org

FLORIDA Florida Immigrant Coalition 2800 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 800 Miami, FL 33137 Teléfono: (305) 571-7254

info@floridaimmigrant.org www.floridaimmigrant.org

MASSACHUSETTS Centro Presente

12 Bennington Street, Suite 202 East Boston, MA, 02128 Teléfono: 857-256-2981 Email: centro@cpresente.org www.cpresente.org Chelsea Human Services Collaborative, Inc. 318 Broadway, Chelsea, MA, 02150 Teléfono: (617) 889-6080 www.chelseacollab.org

Allies: MASSACHUSETTS Agencia Alpha

62 Northampton st. Boston MA, 02118 Teléfono: 617-522-6382 E-mail: dlopez@agenciaalpha.org American Friends Service Committee 2161 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 Teléfono: (617) 661-6130 www.afsc.org/office/cambridge-ma

La Comunidad Inc. 471 Broadway, Suite # 1 Everett, MA 02149 Teléfono: (617) 387-9996

NEW YORK Casa Mary Johanna,

ST. Bridgid’s Iglesia Católica Romana 101 Mapple Ave, Westbury, NY 11590 Teléfono: 516-333-0651 E-mail: yanira@saintbrigid.net Hondureños Contra el SIDA/Casa Yurumein

874 Prospect Avenue, Bronx, New York 10459 Teléfono: 718-213-5439 Email: mircolon@aol.com

Other Resources: New York Central American Legal Assistance (CALA) 240 Hooper St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 Telefono: (718) 486-6800 http://www.centralamericanlegal.info/

New York Immigration Coalition http://www.thenyic.org/Ready4Relief Se Hace el Camino NY http://www.respectanddignity.org/immigration

Members and allies providing information

and support on TPS

NEW JERSEY Viento del Espíritu, centro de recursos para los inmigrantes 120 Speedwell Ave. 2fl Morristown, NJ 07960 Tel: 973-538-2035; Email: windofthespirit1@aol.com www.windofthespirit.net Centro Comunitario CEUS

4214 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Union City, NJ. 07087 Phone: (201) 617-2466 E-mail ceusnj@optonline.net ceusnj2@optonline.net www.ceusnj.org

TEXAS CRECEN/America Para Todos

6601 Hillcroft St No. 125,

Houston, TX 77081 Telefono: 713-271-9703

Washington, DC CARECEN-DC 1460 Columbia Road NW, Suite C-1, Washington, DC 20009 Phone: (202) 328-9799 Email: info@carecendc.org www.carecendc.org Casa Maryland http://casademaryland.org/accionejecutiva/

How to Prepare and

Steps during a Legislative Visit

Make a plan for the meeting.

Get your asks and talking points in order, assign roles of each member in the

meeting, and prepare the main speakers.

1. Before your visit, meet with the other participants to assign roles (more below),

including the facilitator, the personal story, specific points and the asks

2. Practice by role playing before the meeting so that everyone feels comfortable and

knows what to do

3. Review the talking points inside the Save TPS toolkit.

4. Print the following tools 1,2, 3, and 4 from “Resources for Advocacy and

Community Engagement” section in your Save TPS toolkit. Share the copies with

your elected officials.

5. Assign roles. We recommend the following roles, but you can adapt as needed

Needed Roles:

Facilitator: The Facilitator should start the meeting by thanking the elected official or his staff for their time,

introducing the group as a whole, and then having each person introduce themselves. Each participant

should state name and organizational affiliation

Share issues of concern: Make sure you share your concerns on the possibility of ending TPS for El

Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua. Tell them: it is urgent to grants an extension of TPS for an

additional 18 months. I ask you to use your leadership to pass legislation that would allow TPS holders

to adjust to permanent resident status.

How to Prepare and Steps during a Legislative Visit

Testimony: identify one or two volunteers encourage them to keep it short; a three-minute testimonial is

perfect. Ask them to share how they contribute to the economy and about their fair share to the IRS;

how they will be directly impacted if they lose TPS protection against deportation, how their family can

be impacted.

The ask: critical part of the visit when you ask for the member of Congress to save TPS and keep families

together. Tell them: I urge you to use your leadership to protect TPS and to create real pathways for

people holding TPS status to become Permanent Residents. Don’t risk breaking up families and

deporting people into dangerous conditions. Ending TPS would be bad for US business, bad for

taxpayers and bad for the region.

Closing and next steps: the facilitator will thank the elected official or his staff for their time; invite them

to an upcoming event you are planning, if you have mentioned documents or reports offer to send a

copy via e-mail. Offer to be a resource to them, and remember to get the staffers' business cards.

Consider asking them to take a photo with your group – most politicians love the photo opportunity!

After the visit: Debrief your meeting, it’s important to make sure you and your group are on the same page

immediately after leaving the meeting, while the conversation is fresh in your mind. Make sure to leave

the office building, so your debrief conversation can’t be overheard. As a group, review: What did we

hear? Did we get what we wanted? What are the next steps? It is also important to evaluate your

group’s work. How did we do as a team? Share the information learned during your meeting with your

state coalition, immigrants' rights groups, faith based organizations, labor unions, and other allies.

Follow up with your Member of Congress: Choose one person to send a follow up email attaching

the documents mentioned, providing answers to questions that came up during the meeting, and

continuing to engage the member and staff in your group’s work. Send the staff you met an email

thanking them for their time, attaching any documents you mentioned, providing answers to questions

that came up during the meeting, once again making your case against breaking up families and need

to respect TPS beneficiaries’ economic contributions, and inviting them to an upcoming event

La Cancelación del TPS: ¿Qué debo saber? . En menos de un año la administración del presidente Trump ha cancelado la protección que otorga el programa Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS por sus siglas al ingles). Hasta el 8 de enero de 2018 los países afectados con cancelación del TPS son:

• El Salvador, la protección termina el 9 de septiembre de 2019 • Haití, la protección termina el 22 de julio de 2019 • Honduras, la protección termina el 5 de julio de 2018 • Nicaragua, la protección termina el 5 de enero de 2019 • Sudan, la protección termina el 2 de noviembre de 2019

¿Qué significa la cancelación del TPS para estos países? Después de la fecha de finalización anunciada (ver arriba), los permisos de trabajo ya no serán válidos, las personas pierden la protección antes las deportaciones, y ya no serán elegibles para más extensiones de TPS en el futuro.

A mi país se le cancelo el TPS y se nos dio una última registración, ¿debo registrarme, aunque se canceló el programa? Si, para continuar recibiendo la protección en contra de la deportación hasta que llegue el día de terminación del programa, usted debe registrase según indica el DHS. Tiene un máximo de 60 días después de la publicación del registro federal anunciando la decisión del DHS, por ejemplo, si usted es ciudadano de uno de los siguientes países debe registrase dentro del siguiente periodo de tiempo:

• El Salvador, debe registrase entre el 18 de enero al 19 de marzo de 2018 • Haití, debe registrase entre el 18 de enero al 19 de marzo de 2018 • Honduras, debe registrase entre el 15 de diciembre de 2015 al 13 de febrero de 2018 • Nicaragua, debe registrase entre el 15 de diciembre de 2015 al 13 de febrero de 2018

Una vez llegue la fecha de la cancelación del TPS, ¿harán deportaciones masivas? No, el gobierno federal no tiene la capacidad para deportar de forma masiva a las más de 300 mil personas protegidas con el TPS al mismo tiempo.

La situación en mi país es muy difícil y no puedo regresar, ¿Qué puedo hacer para quedarme en los Estados Unidos?

• Debe buscar ayuda legal lo antes posible para conocer si es elegible para otro tipo de visa o alivio. Consulte con organizaciones comunitarias que tienen un record comprobado de asistir de manera responsable. Aquí un listado con 21 organizaciones nivel nacional http://bit.ly/2DiOXdJ

• Únase a la lucha para presionar al Congreso para que otorgue residencia permanente, NO SERA UN REGALO hay que organizarse. Visite www.alianzaamericas.org para ver una lista de organizaciones comunitarias en su ciudad.

Tengo hijos nacidos en Estados Unidos, casa, negocios y otras propiedades ¿Qué puedo hacer? Acérquese a las organizaciones miembros y aliados de Alianza Américas, ellos están organizando foros informativos para responder a estas y otras preguntas, es importante que se informe y que no tome decisiones apresuradas que puedan resultar en más problemas.

¡CUIDADO CON LOS NOTARIOS! En los Estados Unidos el notario público es una persona que puede ser testigo (estar presente) durante la firma de documentos. Pero esa labor NO le acredita para ejercer el trabajo de un abogado de inmigración, a menudo estas personas le prometen soluciones garantizadas para problemas de inmigración complicados o dicen que tienen contactos especiales con el gobierno. ¡Esto nunca es verdad!

¿A dónde puede poner una denuncia de estafa? Si usted o alguien que conoce ha sido víctima de una estafa, debe denunciarlo de inmediato con la Comisión Federal de Comercio. Visite ftc.gov/queja o llame al número 1-877-382-4357. También puede visitar a una organización miembro Alianza Américas y le ayudaremos con la denuncia, para una lista nacional visite www.alianzaamericas.org

AVISO A LA COMUNIDAD Comunidad Salvadoreña elegible bajo el programa de Estatus de Protección

Temporal (TPS)

Chicago, IL, El Jueves 18 de enero el Registro Federal público de manera oficial la decisión del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS por sus siglas al ingles) de terminar la designación vigente del Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS, por sus siglas en inglés), para personas originarias de El Salvador que han recibido dicha protección desde 2001. La Secretaria del DHS ha determinado que las condiciones en El Salvador ya no apoyan su designación para TPS y que por ello otorga solo 18 meses más y que la protección finalizará el 9 de septiembre de 2019. Aquellas personas que son elegibles fueron designadas con el TPS luego del desastre provocado por los terremotos que destruyeron El Salvador en el 2001. Para conocer más detalles de quienes son los actuales beneficiarios del TPS visite www.uscis.gov

Debe reinscribirse durante el periodo de 60 días que transcurrirá desde el 18 de enero de 2018 hasta el 19 de marzo de 2018. ¡Exhortamos a las personas elegibles a reinscribirse lo antes posible y TENGA CUIDADO CON LOS ESTAFADORES!

¿Cómo Reinscribirse al TPS? Para reinscribirse, los actuales beneficiarios de TPS deben presentar:

• Formulario I-821, Solicitud de Estatus de Protección Temporal • Formulario I-765, Solicitud de Autorización de Empleo, (solo si desean obtener una tarjeta de autorización de empleo “EAD”). Si se

reinscribe al TPS y no desea un EAD, no tiene que enviar el pago de tarifa de la I-765. Pero si desea permiso de trabajo traiga un “money order” por $410 dólares que es el costo impuesto por el USCIS para procesar su solicitud de autorización de empleo EAD.

• La tarifa de servicios biométricos (o una exención de tarifas) si tienen 14 años de edad o más. Debe traer un “money order” por $85.00 dólares, que es el costo impuesto por el USCIS para procesar su solicitud.

• Copia del Permiso de Trabajo o las notificaciones de acción expedidas por el USCIS.

La siguiente lista de organizaciones miembros y aliados de Alianza Américas tienen más de 20 años asistiendo de manera profesional y con responsabilidad a la comunidad beneficiaria del TPS, póngase en contacto con ellos lo antes posible. Estas organizaciones sin fines de lucro le solicitaran un donativo simbólico en concepto de ayuda por completarle sus formularios de reinscripción al TPS.

Organización Teléfono Estado Dirección Agencia Alpha 617-522-6382 con

Damaris Velásquez Massachusetts 62 Northampton st. Boston MA, 02118

70 White St. East Boston MA 02128 ASOSAL (213) 483-1244 California 660 S. Bonnie Brae St., Los Angeles, CA 90057

América Para Todos (713) 271-9703 Texas 6601 Hillcroft No. 125 Houston, TX 77081

Centro Comunitario CEUS 201) 617-2466 New Jersey 4214 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Union City, NJ 07087

Centro Presente 857-256-2981 Massachusetts 12 Bennington St, Suite 202, East Boston, 02128 Centro Romero (773) 508-5300 Illinois 6216 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60660 CRECEN Houston (713) 271-9703 Texas 6601 Hillcroft No. 125 Houston, TX 77081 CARECEN Los Ángeles (213) 385-7800 California 2845 West Seventh Street, Los Angeles, CA 90005

CARECEN San Francisco (415) 642-4400 California 3101 Mission St. Ste. 101, San Francisco, CA 94116

CARECEN Washington, DC (202) 328-9799 Washington, DC 1460 Columbia Road NW, Suite C-1, Washington, DC 90005

La Comunidad Inc. (617) 387-9996 Massachusetts 471 Broadway, Suite # 1 Everett, MA 02149 La Colaborativa de Chelsea 617-889-6080 ext. 108

con Yessenia Alfaro Massachusetts 318 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150

Viento del Espíritu 973-538-2035, con Eugenia Vargas

New Jersey 120 Speedwell Ave. Segundo Piso, Morristown, NJ

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Bills

Title ESPERER Act of 2017 (H.R. 4184)

American Promise Act of 2017 (H.R. 4253)

ASPIRE TPS Act 2017 (H.R. 4384)

TPS Act (H.R. 4750)

SECURE Act (S. 2144)

Sponsor Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL)

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO)

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Co-Sponsors 12 (As of Jan 19, 2018) Bipartisan

74 (As of Jan 19,2018) All Democrats

14 (As of Jan 19, 2018) Bipartisan

0 (As of Jan 19, 2018) 17 (As of Jan 19, 2018) All Democrats

Adjustment Adjustment of status to lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LPR). Spouse, or unmarried minor or adult child of successful applicant may also adjust status to lawfully admitted for permanent residence subject to certain conditions.

Adjustment of status to lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LPR). Spouse, parent, or unmarried minor or adult child of successful applicant may also adjust status subject to certain conditions.

Eligible for newly created, renewable 6-year protected status. Adjustment to lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LPR) in cases of extreme hardship. Adjustment of family members only through current law mechanisms.

Automatic 3-year extension for those possessing temporary protected status on date of enactment, or a pending application for temporary protected status that is subsequently granted. Permits subsequent adjustment to lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LPR). While an application for LPR status is pending, the applicant will have provisional protected presence. Adjustment of family members only through current law mechanisms.

Adjustment of status to lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LPR). Spouse, domestic partner, parent, or unmarried minor or adult child of successful applicant may also adjust status subject to certain conditions.

Application deadline for adjustment

Must apply before January 1, 2021.

Must apply within 3 years after bill’s date of enactment.

Must apply within registration period established by the Secretary of Homeland Security, which must be at least one year.

May apply for adjustment to LPR status beginning 6 months before the end of the 3-year extension period. No end date is specified.

No deadline specified.

Eligible countries

Haiti, Nicaragua, El Salvador, or Honduras.

All 13 countries that were designated for TPS or DED as of January 1, 2017.

All 13 countries that were designated for TPS or DED as of January 1, 2017.

All countries that were designated for TPS as of date of enactment.

All countries that have been designated for TPS, or that are designated in the future.

Created by Raben Group

TPS status or eligibility

Have TPS status on January 13, 2011 and on the date of application.

Have been granted or eligible for TPS, or granted DED on or before October 1, 2017

Had been granted or was eligible for TPS or DED on January 1, 2017

Have TPS status or pending application for TPS status on date of enactment.

Have or had been granted TPS, or eligible for TPS at the time the last designation was made

Residence and TPS eligibility requirements

Meets the TPS residence requirements for the nationality, was physically present in the U.S. on January 12, 2011, has been physically present for at least one year, and is physically present on the application date.

Meets the TPS residence requirements for the nationality, plus continuous physical presence in the U.S. for at least 3 years. Waiver of the 3-year requirement authorized in cases of extreme hardship and brief or emergency absences would not count against the requirement.

Meets the TPS residence requirements for the nationality, plus continuous residence in the U.S. for at least 5 years. Brief, casual and innocent absences would not count against the 5-year continuous residence requirement and it does not apply to persons applying for adjustment due to extreme hardship.

Meets the TPS residence requirements and all other requirements to retain TPS during 3-year extension period. Applicants for adjustment to LPR status must be admissible under current law except they are exempted from requirements for labor certification or to possess certain travel documents. The Secretary may waive other conditions on humanitarian grounds but not most requirements regarding criminal and national security issues.

Meets the TPS residence requirements for the nationality, plus continuous physical presence in the U.S. for at least 3 years and physically present on date of application. One or more absences of 180 days or less do not count against the 3-year requirement and a waiver is authorized in cases of extreme hardship.

Other requirements

Must meet the current law criminal, national security, and specified other grounds of admissibility and non-deportability, plus must not have been convicted of a felony or more than 2 misdemeanors. That is in addition to the criminal, national security, and other requirements to be eligible for TPS

Must meet all current law criminal, national security, and other requirements for admissibility, except that public charge and certain other grounds don’t apply, and all others may be waived. That is in addition to the criminal, national security, and other requirements to be eligible for TPS

Must meet the TPS criminal, national security, and other requirements, except that the following may not be considered: (1) misdemeanors committed more than 6 years before the application and (2) expunged offenses.

Must meet current law criminal, national security, and most other requirements for admissibility. Must submit biometric and biographic data as specified by the Secretary. The Secretary must utilize the biometric data in performing background and security checks on applicants, and adjustment cannot be granted until such checks are complete to the satisfaction of the Secretary.

Must meet current law criminal, national security, and certain other requirements for admissibility and deportability. That is in addition to the criminal, national security, and other requirements to be eligible for TPS

Created by Raben Group

Fees Fee based on assessment of cost to the government (current law)

Fee based on assessment of cost to the government (current law)

$50 plus standard work authorization fee

Fee for adjustment to LPR status based on cost to the government. Fees for extending TPS status and providing employment authorization documents not specified in the bill and could rely on fees in current law.

Fee based on assessment of cost to the government (current law)

Deportation relief

Yes, while application pending

Yes, while application pending

Yes, if prima facie eligible and application pending or within first 30 days of registration period.

Yes, if prima facie eligible and application pending. Provisional protected status can be revoked if the Secretary finds the applicant poses a threat to national security or public safety, or has traveled outside the U.S. without authorization.

Yes, while application pending or if individual is prima facie eligible and indicates intent to file application

Work authorization while application under review?

Yes, after 180 days. At DHS discretion prior to that.

Yes. Yes, if prima facie eligible and application pending or within first 30 days of registration period.

Yes, if prima facie eligible and application pending. (Work authorization also included in 3-year extension of TPS.)

Yes.

Path to Citizenship

Individual typically can apply for naturalization 5 years after adjusting to LPR status under the bill (current law).

Individual can only apply for naturalization 5 years after adjusting to LPR status under the bill. English language test is waived, and applicant may take the civics test in their own language

No path to citizenship for those granted new 6-year protected status. Those granted LPR status under the extreme hardship provision typically can apply for naturalization 5 years after adjusting to LPR status (current law).

Individual typically can apply for naturalization 5 years after adjusting to LPR status under the bill (current law)

Individual typically can apply for naturalization 5 years after adjusting to LPR status under the bill (current law).

TPS reforms or termination

n/a n/a Specifies that TPS holders shall be considered inspected and admitted

Would permanently eliminate Temporary Protected Status going forward other than the 3-

n/a

Created by Raben Group

to the US under immigration law, eliminating a current limitation that prevents many from adjusting to LPR status when they are otherwise qualified to do so. Also provides that expunged convictions are not counted for TPS eligibility.

year extension for those who possess the status on the date of enactment, or have a pending application for TPS on that date that is subsequently granted.

Adjustment of visas

Beginning in fiscal year 2022, the total number of immigrant visas available under the INA section 201 for (c) (family reunification, (e) employment based and (d)diversity shall be reduced by50,000 annually from thenumber otherwise available. Thevisas shall be reduced in thesame proportion as the numberof visas otherwise available.However, in any fiscal year thisvisa reduction would be cappedat the difference between thecumulative number ofindividuals who have adjustedtheir status under the bill, andthe cumulative number of visareductions made by the bill.

Created by Raben Group

H.R. 4184, “Extending Status Protection for Eligible Refugees with Establish Residency Act of 2017” or “ESPERER Act of 2017”

Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL 26th District)

The bill would allow certain recipients of Temporary Protected Status to adjust to lawful permanent resident status.

Section 2

● Adjustment of status to lawfully admitted for permanent residence. To qualify, the individual must:

○ Be a national of Haiti, Nicaragua, El Salvador, or Honduras

○ Apply before January 1, 2021

○ Have had TPS status on January 13, 2011 and on the application date,

○ Meet other physical presence and continuous physical presence requirements.

○ Meet various existing requirements for admissibility and non-deportability in addition to those required for TPS, including those for criminal,

security related, public charge, and health, and not have been convicted of a felony or three or more misdemeanors that resulted in more than a

total of 90 days imprisonment

● If the application is successful, any prior order for removal will be vacated.

● Applicant shall not be removed from the US during proceedings while the application is processed.

● The Secretary of Homeland Security may provide work authorization to an applicant, and must do so if the application is pending more than 180 days.

● The spouse, unmarried child under 21 years old, or unmarried adult child of a TPS holder who adjusts to LPR status under this bill may also adjust if they

meet certain requirements

● Determination of status is subject to administrative review, but will then be final and not subject to review by any court

● Adjustment of status will not reduce the number of immigrant visas issued

Created by Raben Group

H.R. 4253, “American Promise Act of 2017”

Rep. Nydia Velazquez; (D-NY 7th District)

The bill would allow certain recipients of Temporary Protected Status to adjust to lawful permanent resident status.

Section 2

● Adjustment of status to lawfully admitted for permanent residence. The individual must:

○ Apply within 3 years after bill’s enactment.

○ Have been granted or be eligible for Temporary Protected Status, or been granted Deferred Enforced Departure, on or before October 1, 2017,

or if not, had a TPS or DED designation that expired after January 1, 2017.

○ Meet various existing requirements for admissibility and non-deportability in addition to the requirements for TPS, including those for criminal,

security related, and health, although these requirements may be waived for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is

otherwise in the public interest.

○ Continuous physical presence for at least 3 years since the effective date of the Act, or if less than 3 years, the Attorney General or DHS

Secretary determines that removal would result in extreme hardship to the immigrant, their spouse or domestic partner, their children, or their

parents.

● If the application is successful, any prior order for removal will be vacated.

● Applicant is authorized to work pending processing of application.

● A spouse, parent, or unmarried child regardless of age of individuals who adjust under this provision can also adjust if they apply within 3 years after the

date of enactment.

● Determinations on applications are subject to administrative review

● Adjustment of status will not reduce the number of immigrant visas issued

Section 3

● If a country is terminated from Temporary Protected Status, the Attorney General must provide (within 3 days) a report including:

○ What event prompted the TPS designation;

○ How the country has remedied conditions that prompted designation;

○ An analysis of the country’s ability to reabsorb its population; and

○ The economic and social impact of repatriation.

Section 4

● Immigrants eligible for adjustment under this bill may count their time in TPS status towards the continuous physical presence requirement for non-LPR

cancellation of removal

Section 5

● Immigrants who obtain LPR status under the bill must wait at least 5 years after obtaining such status before applying to naturalize, but do not have to

take the English language test and they may take the civics test in their own language.

Created by Raben Group

H.R. 4384, “Act to Sustain the Protection of Immigrant Residents Earned Through TPS Act 2017” or “ASPIRE TPS Act of 2017” (Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-NY, 9th District)

The bill would allow certain recipients of Temporary Protected Status to apply for a new form of protected status good for renewable, six-year terms. In cases of extreme hardship, the TPS holder would be able to adjust to lawful permanent resident status.

Section 2 ● Creates a new, renewable six-year protected status for certain individuals. To qualify, an individual must:

○ Be granted or eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) on January 1, 2017;○ Have continuously resided in the US since at least 5 years before enactment;○ Meet the admissibility and other requirements for TPS except that a conviction for a misdemeanor that occurred more than six years prior to the

date of application for protected status or renewal of protected status is not disqualifying.○ Apply during a registration period of at least one year, as specified by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

● Successful applicants must register with the Secretary of Homeland Security every 36 months, and may apply for additional 6-year renewals of the

protected status during which period the applicant:

○ Shall be authorized to work

○ Shall be treated as a “qualified immigrant” for government benefits purposes, and

○ May travel abroad without prior authorization

● The Secretary of Homeland Security must notify individuals who have been granted TPS or DED about the new protected status, including those inremoval proceedings.

● During the period before registration begins, and for the first 30 days of registration period, a person who establishes prima facie eligibility shall not beput into proceedings or removed, and shall be granted work authorization.

● While an application is pending, an applicant who establishes prima facie eligibility shall be granted work authorization and may not be put intoproceedings or removed until a final decision on their application for protected status has been made.

● If the application is successful, any prior order for removal will be vacated.

● Protected status may not be denied based on the applicant’s current immigration status, and may not be conditioned on any kind of waiver of rights

under immigration law.

● The Secretary shall withdraw protected status once granted if the Secretary determines the individual was not eligible for the status, or if the individual

fails, without good cause, to comply with the 36-month registration requirements.

● Certain applicants may be eligible to adjust to LPR status if removal would result in extreme hardship to the individual or their spouse, unmarried minor

child, or parent who are citizens or lawful permanent residents.

● The Secretary may require a fee of not more than $50 to apply for the protected status, in addition to a fee for work authorization.

● Determinations are subject to for administrative review

● Adjustment of status will not reduce the number of immigrant visas issued

● Information provided under this section cannot be used for immigration enforcement

Created by Raben Group

Section 3

● Clarifies that expunged or pardoned convictions do not bar an individual from eligibility for TPS

● TPS holders are considered to have been inspected and admitted for purposes of immigration law, thereby eliminating a current limitation that prevents

many TPS recipients from adjusting to LPR status when they are otherwise qualified to do so.

Section 4

● Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees every 90 days, beginning with the date of

enactment, that includes: the number of applicants for the new protected status, the number of successful applicants; the overall number of such

individuals living in the United States and information about the length and location of their residency.

Created by Raben Group

H.R. 4750, “TPS Act”

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO 6th District)

The bill would terminate Temporary Protected Status going forward. It would provide an automatic 3-year extension of Temporary Protected Status for current

participants and those with pending applications that are subsequently granted. At the end of the 3-year period, this group would generally be eligible to apply

for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status. Beginning in fiscal year 2022, the number of immigrant visas otherwise available for family reunification,

employment or diversity would be reduced to offset the number of individuals adjusting to LPR status under the bill.

Section 2

● Terminates new grants of temporary protected status as of the date of enactment, with the exception of applications pending on the date of enactment

that are subsequently granted.

● Individuals who possess temporary protected status on the date of enactment are automatically granted a 3-year extension

● Individuals with pending TPS applications on the date of enactment that are subsequently approved are granted status for the 3-year window beginning

on the date of enactment

● Documentation and work permits relative to an individual’s TPS are deemed valid for the 3-year extension.

Section 3

● Allows individuals with the extended TPS status to apply for adjustment to lawful permanent resident.

● The application period for such adjustment will begin six months before the end of the 3-year extension period with no deadline specified

● The Secretary shall create, by rulemaking, a process that allows TPS holders to apply for adjustment without being placed in removal proceedings and

without regard to the immediate availability of immigrant visas under current law.

● The application process will also provide a way for minors to apply for adjustment, including through a guardian or legal counsel

● While an application is pending, the applicant who is prima facie eligible shall be granted provisional protected status which includes work authorization

● Provisional protected status can be rescinded if the Secretary determines that the applicant is a threat to national security or public safety or has

traveled outside the United States without authorization

● Applicants must submit biometric and biographic data that must be used in conducting background checks; adjustment cannot be granted before such

checks are complete to the Secretary’s satisfaction

● Beginning in fiscal year 2022, reduces the number of visas otherwise available for family reunification, employment and the diversity program by 50,000

per fiscal year. These reductions would be made proportionately across the three categories. However in any given fiscal year, the reduction could not

exceed the difference between the cumulative total of individuals adjusted to lawful permanent resident status under the bill and the cumulative

reduction in available immigrant visas.

Created by Raben Group

S. 2144, “Safe Environment for Countries Under Repression and in Emergency Act” or “SECURE Act”Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-MD

The bill would allow certain recipients of Temporary Protected Status to adjust to lawful permanent resident status.

Section 2 ● Adjustment of status to lawfully admitted for permanent residence. To qualify, the individual must:

○ Hold Temporary Protected Status, have held TPS, or have been qualified to hold TPS at the time the last designation was made.○ Meet existing criminal and national security and certain other admissibility and non-deportability requirements in addition to the requirements

for TPS.○ Have had continuous physical presence for at least 3 years since the application date for LPR status under the act, or if less than 3 years, the

Attorney General or DHS Secretary determines that removal would result in extreme hardship to the immigrant, their spouse or domestic

partner, their children, or their parents.

● An individual ordered removed or permitted voluntarily to depart can apply for adjustment of status if they are in the United States, and can not be

deported while the application is pending.

● An individual cannot be removed if an individual cites eligibility to apply as a defense to a removal order, provided such an application has not already

been denied in a final administrative determination.

● If the application is successful, any prior order for removal will be vacated.

● An applicant is authorized to work pending processing of application.

● A spouse, domestic partner, parent, or minor or adult unmarried child of an individual who adjusts under this provision can also adjust their status if

they are physically present in the US when the individual applies for adjusted status under the act, and generally are otherwise eligible for admission

(although an adult unmarried child may not adjust their status until he or she has been physically present in the US at least one year).

● Determinations on applications are subject to administrative review

● Adjustment of status will not reduce the number of immigrant visas issued

Section 3 ● If a country is terminated from Temporary Protected Status, the Secretary of Homeland Security must provide (within 3 days) a report including:

○ What event prompted the TPS designation;

○ How the country has remedied conditions that prompted the designation;

○ Whether the country has requested a designation, redesignation or extension; and

○ An analysis of the country’s ability to reabsorb its population, including economic factors and political conditions.

Section 4

● Individuals eligible to adjust status under the act are not precluded from seeking adjustment under any other legal provision that applies.

Created by Raben Group

#SaveTPS

Resources for Organizing via Social Media/ Recursos para organización en línea y redes sociales

#SOMOSWeAre

Call to Action, Save TPS!

We are urging TPS beneficiaries, faith based communities, labor unions, employers and all people of conscience to contact the White House, Congress, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State and tell them that TPS for Haiti, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua is in our national interest. Ending TPS would be bad for business, bad for families, and a violation of our obligations to protect the vulnerable. Combined, there are more than 300 thousand TPS holders from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua currently living

in the U.S.. These are our classmates, co-workers and neighbors. They have been living and working in the United States

legally for years and have put down roots. Many of them have U.S. citizen children, contribute to the U.S. labor market and

economy, and send money to impoverished communities back in their countries of origin.

The first, urgent step is to press for an extension of TPS for an additional 18 months. Next, we must ask Congress to pass

legislation that would allow TPS holders to adjust to permanent resident status. Below there are simple steps we all can take

to save TPS.

How to contact: Websites for finding congressional members:

White House (202) 456-1111

DHS (202) 282-8495

US Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 (Call and enter zip code when asked.)

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

http://whoismyrepresentative.com/

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Script for your Representative:

As your constituent, I urge you to use your leadership to protect TPS and to create real pathways for people holding TPS

status to adjust to LPR status. Don’t risk breaking up families and deporting people into dangerous conditions. Ending TPS

would be bad for US business, bad for taxpayers and bad for the region.

Script for Senate: I urge you to use your leadership to protect TPS and to create real pathways for people holding TPS status to become Permanent Residents. Don’t risk breaking up families and deporting people into dangerous conditions. Ending TPS would be bad for US business, bad for taxpayers and bad for the region.

Script for the White House: President Trump, we ask you to extend TPS for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua. TPS recipients have been living and working in the United States legally for years--they are our classmates, co-workers, and neighbors. Many of them have U.S. citizen children, contribute to the U.S. labor market and economy, and send money to impoverished communities back in their countries of origin. Ending TPS would be bad for business, bad for the economy, and bad for families.

Script for Department of Homeland Security:

I urge you to continue temporary protection for people from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua currently living in

the U.S. Don’t break up families and put people in danger. Work with Congress to create real pathways for our TPS

classmates, co-workers and neighbors to remain here with a Permanent Residency visa.

#SOMOSWeAre

SAMPLE TWEETS General Tweets

Ending TPS for Haiti, El Salvador, & Honduras would lead to $45B reduction in GDP: https://goo.gl/NYIi6M #SaveTPS @DHSGov Cost of Ending TPS 4 Haiti, El Salvador, & Honduras: $45B GDP loss, $6.9B tax loss, & $967M employer costs https://goo.gl/NYIi6M #SaveTPS Deporting Haitian, Salvadoran, & Honduran TPS holders would cost taxpayers over $3B https://goo.gl/NYIi6M #SaveTPS @DHSGov

Haiti-Specific Tweets

Ending Haiti TPS would lead to $2.8B GDP loss, $428M lost taxes, and $60M turnover cost https://goo.gl/NYIi6M #SaveTPS @DHSgov Deporting Haitians with TPS would cost ~$469M: https://goo.gl/NYIi6M #SaveTPS @DHSgov