There are immigration policy tools that allow the government to grant temporary immigration relief for individuals nationals of a country undergoing challenging situations. The Secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to designate a country for TPS where the country is unable to handle the returning citizens safely, under Section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

TPS may be designated for countries with ongoing armed conflicts, facing environmental disaster (earthquake, flood, or drought) or epidemic, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. Individuals present in the US may apply for TPS, which make them eligible for employment authorization, an opportunity to travel outside the U.S., and protection from detention and deportation. 

Alianza Americas works on TPS advocating for a path towards permanent residence for those individuals that have remained under such status for years because their countries of origin have not recovered sufficiently and their lives would be endangered, if they were to return. Alianza Americas also advocates for new designations of TPS when countries in Latin America and the Caribbean face extraordinary conditions that merit the adoption of this measure.

• Two congressional briefings on TPS, DACA and DED held in Washington DC
• Over 200 congressional visits conducted between June 2017 to September 2019.
• 800 TPS holders attending House-to-House events.
• 10k people attending TPS events such as community forums in Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Miami, North Carolina and Minnesota.
• Over 10k views TPS toolkits and 2 TPS explainer videos about the Ramos and Bhattarai lawsuit on Facebook and our YouTube channel
• 20,000 copies of TPS explainer brochures distributed in 10 different states
• More than 10,000 hits on media interviews with Alianza staff discussing TPS
• Red amplia de portavoces voluntarios.
• Expanded network of volunteer spokespersons
• Casa por Casa / House to House implemented in 6 states
• 14 organizational members held conversations on contingency plans for local TPS holders
• Members attended Congressional town halls in 11 states to raise awareness on TPS

More than 300,000 people who are protected under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program and their families are awaiting the ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the Ramos v. Nielsen case. This decision will determine whether the Trump administration is able to terminate the program how they intended to do so and for the reasons they alleged. 

Regardless of the decision, Alianza Americas reaffirms its commitment to continue advocating before Congress to pass legislation that provides a pathway to permanent residency for TPS holders who have lived in the US for so many years. 

It is important that TPS holders stay informed before and after the court’s ruling. Please, follow these recommendations:

• Know and defend your rights
• Promote mutual support among TPS holders
• Participate in calls and actions from grassroots organizations

• Inform yourself about the situation, don’t promote panic
• Be careful with scammers
• Don’t make hasty decisions

Also, you can check our talking points in English and Spanish, and our action plan.

As part of our action plan, we will host a live conversation on the day of the ruling to discuss its implications.

We invite you to stay informed of this and other actions. If you have questions, you can contact us at info@alianzaamericas.org

I am a TPS holder. I help keep the US safe.

Thousands of TPS beneficiaries go to work every day to strengthen the US economy and keep us all safe. In the COVID-19 crisis, their labor is essential and heroic. They deserve protection!

In response to the cancellation of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, we launched a nationwide community organization strategy led by our members, including the “Casa por Casa” campaign in key cities across the United States. This effort, led by Alianza Americas and member organizations, allowed our network and allied organizations in several states to involve hundreds of TPS holders so they could tell their own stories to policymakers in Congress and advocate for permanent and immediate solutions to protect TPS holders.