For Immediate Release
February 14, 2022
Media Contact
Erik Villalobos, evillalobos@ndlon.org
The National TPS Alliance Supports February 14th,
“Day Without Immigrants”
(Washington D.C) The National TPS Alliance issued the following statement in support of “A Day Without Immigrants” and the nationwide boycotts and mobilizations currently happening in several cities across the country:
“We join in solidarity with our allies in the immigrant rights community. Immigrant led nationwide boycotts on Valentine’s day; an important date for the US commercial economy, seeks to re-emphasize the fact that this country depends on, and is indebted to the labor and contributions of migrant communities.
Today, we are once again calling on President Biden and Democratic leaders such as Latino Senators Lujan, Cortez-Masto, Menendez and Padilla, to take a bold principled stance for immigrants. If Senators Manchin and Sinema can obstruct the legislative process for their own political interests, why can’t they do it for us?
The National TPS Alliance will continue to call for immediate action on the following:
- Democratic Congressional Leadership must overcome its recent Build Back Better failure, and pass legislation with a guarantee of permanent residency through any available legislative vehicle, whether it requires passing legislation such as HR6, eliminating the filibuster, or through other means. We will work with any lawmaker willing to do what it takes to get the job done. Where there is a will, there is a way!
- President Biden must use his political capital to provide immediate protections to benefit as many immigrants as possible. He must use his executive authority to re-designate and expand the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Central America and for millions of immigrants who cannot return to their native countries due to the pandemic, to natural disasters, and ongoing political turmoil. He has the power and moral imperative to act. What is missing at the moment is the political will.
While we are still unaware of the potential impact from this nationwide effort, we know its intentions are meant to elevate the struggle of all immigrant communities and we salute each and everyone of the individuals who have sacrificed their work day or school day. While a call for an immigrant-led nationwide boycott may be controversial, the reality is that today is a reflection of the overall sentiment of our community. After more than 25 years of unfulfilled promises, we have grown tired of the constant inaction and failure of leaders within the traditional immigrant rights movement and its foundations, from Democratic leaders; especially those who identify as our champions, and from the White House.
Enough is Enough! We are sick and tired of the inaction, the lies, the deprivation, mistreatment and dehumanization against our families. There will be no change for the immigrant community until the power is in our hands, not in the hands of politicians and aristocratic advocates. As leadership in Washington continues to fail, it is becoming more clear for the entire immigrant community that instead of depending on the voices of politicians, lobbyists and intermediaries, we must speak for ourselves!
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The National TPS Alliance is a grassroots immigrant rights organization of over 50 committees nationwide, advocating for the permanent residency of more than 400,000 beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)