With respect to the Central American children coming to the southern border of the U.S., ask your representatives and President Obama to do the following*: A. DEMAND TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS, or TPS for Honduras, Guatemalans, Mexicans (at least the most violent Mexican border- states), and Salvadorans. This is a clean, simple, and tested solution. Although imperfect, it will serve as a “cease fire” while better solutions are worked through. It will also respond to the current demands to just send everyone back right now. We will be issuing draft petitions for the White House shortly, as well as letters to email urgently to all Senate offices. The more church and human rights organizations that can visit the White House and insist on this measure, the better. TPS has been granted before to Haitians, Salvadorans and Nicaraguans. The cut- off date would begin as of the date President Obama signs the papers. It does not have to go through Congress. Everyone already here could stay and also work. However, the status temporary, so in a year or so the dangers in the home countries will be re- evaluated and people could be sent back then. This is tried and true. It will in fact save the government huge amounts of time and money by swiftly resolving people’s status, releasing them, and allowing them to work and support themselves, instead of being detained in government sponsored centers. It will greatly relieve the huge back up of cases in the immigration courts. It would also slow the surge if people understand there is a specific cut- off date. B. All minors should be provided with an attorney. C. Religious, human rights and civic groups should be granted immediate access to Border Patrol ware-houses as well as ORR sponsored shelters. Reasonable provisions of food and blankets should be permitted at the BP centers. * Jennifer Harbury is the author; I changed one word.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 18:46:27 +0000
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