Statement from Commissioner Bitta Mostofi on 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision on Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

For Immediate Release: September 16, 2020
Contact: mediabox@moia.nyc.gov, 212-676-3013

We are deeply disturbed by the court's September 14 decision, which allows the termination of TPS for El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Sudan to move forward, and opens the path for termination of Nepal and Honduras TPS. It is unconscionable to throw the lives of almost 350,000 people and their families into turmoil when they contribute so much to our country. Many of these long-standing members of our communities are essential workers serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. TPS holders and their loved ones desperately need a real solution that allows them to live free from constant uncertainty and fear of family separation. We urge the Senate to pass the American Dream and Promise Act to give TPS recipients and Dreamers a pathway to citizenship. To the approximately 15,000 TPS recipients in New York City: please know that these terminations do not take effect immediately, and help is available. Call the ActionNYC hotline at 800-354-0365 for connections to City-funded, free and safe immigration legal help.

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The NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) promotes the well-being of NYC's immigrant communities by advocating for policies that increase justice, equity, and empowerment. MOIA leads, supports, and manages programs that help to successfully include immigrant New Yorkers into the civic, economic, and cultural life of the City. For more information on all MOIA services and the City's many resources for immigrant New Yorkers, go to nyc.gov/immigrants; call the MOIA hotline at 212-788-7654 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday or send an email to AskMOIA@cityhall.nyc.gov; and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.