From the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (http://www.interfaithimmigration.org):
Last night, the administration terminated the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Haiti, effective July 22, 2019. This decision illustrates the administration’s prioritization of anti-immigrant sentiment over an honest assessment of in-country conditions. It also shows the cruelty and inhumanity of DHS, as this decision follows the recent TPS terminations for Sudan and Nicaragua, ending protections for dreamers and Central American children, and dismantling the refugee resettlement program.
It is increasingly clear that this administration is not making decisions based on compassion, kindness, or the rule of law, but rather on a prejudice against immigrant communities. It is critical this decision is met with a swift and powerful response by our elected leaders and community members.
Take Action Today! Our Senators and Representatives need to hear that their constituents stand with Haitian TPS holders and call on Congress to ensure all TPS holders can stabilize their immigration status and are protected from family separation. Use the tool at the “Take Action Today” link to make calls, or find direct contact information:
- Senator Robert Casey: http://casey.senate.gov
- Senator Pat Toomey: http://toomey.senate.gov
- Your Representative: http://www.house.gov
Ending TPS is devastating to tens of thousands of families in the United States, including the 27,000 U.S. citizen children with a Haitian TPS holder parent. When TPS expires, those families will face impossible choices: separation, moving U.S. citizen children to harsh and dangerous conditions in an unfamiliar country, or risk deportation by remaining in the United States without legal status. Since the devastating 2010 earthquake, Haiti’s recovery has been marred by subsequent and intervening natural disasters, public health crises, ongoing displacement, and hunger. Terminating Haiti’s TPS designation now means turning our backs on the vulnerable Haitians whom we pledged to protect, and places considerable burdens on the country as it struggles to rebuild.
Call your Members of Congress right now and make your voice heard.
Here are more ways you can take action!
- Write & Share Press Releases Condemning Reports of TPS Terminations: Press releases increase public education and raise the public profile of why TPS is important to our communities. We encourage faith organizations to take a public stance condemning Haiti’s TPS termination, urging the administration to reinstate Haiti’s TPS designation, and calling on Congress to pass a permanent solution for TPS holders. For CWS’s statement, please click here.
- Join the Prayer Chain and Share on Social Media: Record a video of yourself holding a printed, filled out #Faith4TPS sign. Upload your video to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the hashtag #Faith4TPS and tag the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (@interfaithimm). Don’t forget to tweet at your Members of Congress (see Twitter handles below) and @realDonaldTrump. Click here for sample social media posts and here for graphics.
- Plan #Faith4TPS Events: Host an interfaith vigil, educate your faith community, and organize other events to lift up the importance of TPS. Local actions are a great way to amplify voices of TPS holders in the media, and don’t forget to invite your national, state, and local officials. Click here to view our Interfaith Toolkit to Defend TPS to learn more.
- Write for Media: Elevate the public call by publishing a letter to the editor ASAP condemning the termination of TPS for Haiti, urging the administration to reinstate Haiti’s TPS designation, and calling on Congress to pass a permanent solution for TPS holders. Click here for sample op-eds, LTEs, and other resources on how to pitch and place media pieces.
- Share Resources: Visit www.interfaithimmigration.org/TPS to learn more.
As people of faith, we are called to welcome the stranger, stand with the vulnerable, and love our neighbor. We have a moral and legal obligation to uphold our promise to protect our Haitian neighbors and seek a just and equitable permanent solution for all TPS holders.
Thank you for taking action, and for all your work and support!
- Bob Casey: @SenBobCasey
- Pat Toomey: @SenToomey
- Bob Brady (PA-1): @RepBrady
- Dwight Evans (PA-2): @RepDwightEvans
- Mike Kelly (PA-3): @MikeKellyPA
- Scott Perry (PA-4): @RepScottPerry
- Glenn Thompson (PA-5): @CongressmanGT
- Ryan Costello (PA-6): @RepRyanCostello
- Pat Meehan (PA-7): @RepMeehan
- Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-8): @RepBrianFitz
- Bill Shuster (PA-9): @RepBillShuster
- Tom Marino (PA-10): @RepTomMarino
- Lou Barletta (PA-11): @RepLouBarletta
- Keith Rothfus (PA-12): @RepRothfus
- Brendan Boyle (PA-13): @CongBoyle
- Mike Doyle (PA-14): @USRepMikeDoyle
- Charlie Dent (PA-15): @RepCharlieDent
- Lloyd Smucker (PA-16): @RepSmucker
- Matt Cartwright (PA-17): @RepCartwright
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