Sunday, May 6, 2018

Trump Administration Ends Protected Status for Thousands of Hondurans

Summary: The Trump administration on Friday ended a special immigration program for 57,000 Hondurans who have legally lived and worked in the U.S. for two decades, giving them 18 months to leave the country. The announcement is the latest step by the administration to phase out Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is granted to foreign nationals whose countries are decimated by hurricanes, earthquakes and civil wars. By cutting off TPS for Hondurans, the administration has now ended the program for 98% of the roughly 317,000 immigrants from six countries who had been legally residing in the U.S., some for nearly 30 years.
"Forcing their return to a country that is wracked by endemic violence and poverty will put their lives in danger, separate families, and have devastating effects on communities both in Honduras and the United States," said Sister Patricia McDermott, president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.

Analysis: What was intended to be “temporary” clearly was not. Twenty two years is not a temporary or fleeting time in any person's life. I simply do not understand the rush to kick out hard-working people who have been here for so many years. When TPS is ended for a particular group, there should be a special appeals process where an affected individual can make a case for why he or she should stay. This decision is only creating more illegal immigrants willing to take the risk of living in the shadows instead of abandoning their lives here. Families will be broken up and livelihoods will be disrupted for no good reason.

Questions:
What are your thoughts on this topic?
Do you approve of Trump’s decision to terminate TPS?
Should thousands of people who have lived most of their lives in the US get sent back to country they are no longer familiar with?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Although I personally completely disagree with the philosophy, I understand that it is a legitimate policy choice to send these immigrants home if they have not officially received citizenship. However, I think there should be a better way to help these people transition back to their home countries. We could give them a longer period of time to move back, help them with resources or potentially even give them some money to support the move. I believe there is a much better way to help these people go through this huge and challenging transition.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Lydia. Twenty-two years is enough time to establish roots in the US, and while I don't know how long the citizenship process is, I don't think it's fair to hold the TPS benefactors responsible for the lack of effort. This is similar to the talk of suspending H1-B visas, which disproportionately affects people from certain countries. Also, I'd just like to point out, without the numbers of immigrants, the US's birthrate is less than its death rate; we're a declining population, so it makes sense to open up the workforce to those willing to come work in the country, and essentially make a life. I think we (the government, rather) ought to allocate repatriation resources to those sent "back" to countries from whence they came.

Anonymous said...

I find this very sad. I definitely think that the administration should help out with sending them back to their home countries. It's unfair because they were suppose to be protected but clearly aren't. I think 18 months isn't long enough for them to gather all their things and find a home in a country that isn't as safe as it is here. Although I do see that the first thought is they shouldve gotten their citizenship, but it's important to know that not anyone can qualify to get their status.

Anonymous said...

Two decades of living in the US, despite not being citizens should at least be considered citizens in terms of benefits and protections in my opinion. It's quite a long time and most of these Hondurans probably established families, started careers and built a life here. It's unfair to demand them to be sent back, especially when only given a year and a half to do so. I believe this will also harm US' economy in where these Hondurans are living in, since many job positions will be vacated, leading the economy to take a big hit.

Anonymous said...

I think the way this is being executed is not acceptable. Immigrants should, like you said, be able to make a case for themselves especially if they are causing no trouble. And like Lydia said, if this is completely necessary, we can help ease their move back to their home country. Our country should also offer some sort of support if all we are doing is sending them back into danger.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

I believe that if people from other nations are able to come to live in the US for more than 18 years, they've definitely earned their place in the United States. These people likely have family and stable jobs with that much time spent in the states, so to leave it behind suddenly seems unreasonable. This should have been anticipated by immigrants who knew that their status was temporary, however, so this shouldn't have been a very big surprise to them, especially given Trumps position on immigration.

Anonymous said...

I disagree with his ideas and his execution of the problem, as these people have lived in the US for twenty-two years. That is a good amount of time, meaning that they have been able to create a life for themselves here. I agree with Lydia in that there must be an easier way to transition them back. I think that they should be given more time to move and the US should provide them with some money and resources for jobs. Overall, these people deserve to be supported and helped, rather than just forced out in just eighteen months.

Unknown said...

I think we need to go back to a time when Republicanism stood for opening the country to immigrants and welcoming all people instead of isolating ourselves. Bring back Reagan's open borders!

Anonymous said...

It says "temporary," but they've lived here for twenty-two years, they should well be legal citizens by now. They've built lives, families, and made livings for themselves in the twenty-two years spent in the US. They should be able to argue for themselves and make a case against such action. I can understand this this policy is legitimate, but giving a group of citizens that have been living here for more than two decades 18 months to get out is a horrible way to execute it. There should be a better means of helping them transition back then literally saying good bye and good luck.

Anonymous said...

I agree with many of the previous commenters. Regardless of the fact that this bill was put into place as a "temporary" thing, after twenty two years of living, working, and building lives and families more opportunity should be given to these immigrants. They should have the ability to become citizens instead of being forced out in a mere 18 months. I agree with Lydia. If we must do this, it should be done with grace. We can do much more to help these people than just telling them they have to leave.

Anonymous said...

I believe that the Trump Administration should help with sending the people back to their home countries because everyone should have the ability to and also the immigrants are clearly not harming anyone. Hardworking people should definitely have the right to reside there and also have more opportunities instead of being hindered. People deserve the right and ability to make their lives better and the Trump Administration preventing people from making their lives better ultimately make more issues such as illegal immigrants risking their lives and making decisions that could harm them in the present and future.

Anonymous said...

I disagree with the Trump Administration's decision here. It seems unfair that people are being forced to leave after spending so much time in America. After living in America for 20ish years, I would like to think that America is their home and have made a new life here. To take that away seems wrong. I believe that immigrants should be able to vouch for themselves in order to stay in America. I also think it's a good idea to at least make the transition out of America as easy and comfortable as possible.

Anonymous said...

What are your thoughts on this topic?
-i do not have an opinion on the topic, but it is a quick transitional occurence in 18 months
Do you approve of Trump’s decision to terminate TPS?
-i approve of his decison but not int he manners he is taking it in. the idea of terminating a temporary program is obviouse, it s temporary for a reason. though they may return to their country wher eit is broken, the us cannot change that problem and it should not be of responsibiity to take those people in for another countrie's problems.however, i do not believe in the way of how quickly he is transitioning, people have lived here for decades and only have so many months to leave
Should thousands of people who have lived most of their lives in the US get sent back to country they are no longer familiar with?
-yes, though they have been adjusted, it is only right to send them back. they do not belong tot he us, and could in the future, but given the situation it is only right to send them back.