We Protect Each Other: Immigrants in MA with “TPS” Fight Back Against Losing Status
Did you know that over 1.1 million people in the United States (including more than 27,000 in MA) are at risk of living their existing legal immigration status? The current Administration is doing everything they can to end “Temporary Protected Status” (TPS) for immigrants from 17 countries in which the conditions are unsafe for their return. Many of them have been in our communities for more than 15 or 20 years, owning property, starting small businesses, and raising citizen children. Without a pathway to Permanent Residency, TPS-holders from countries like Haiti, Venezuela, Nepal, Honduras, El Salvador, and Afghanistan will be forced into an impossible choice: depart the U.S. by a given end date within the next year, or lose their work permits and legal status and be at risk of detention and deportation at any time.
Join us online to hear from immigrant leaders in the MA TPS Committee, who will share with us about their fight, their wins in the courts so far, and what they need from the greater faith community in MA to work alongside them for these protections. While in the long run a pathway to Legal Permanent Residency is needed for TPS-Holders, right now we need to fight with them to be able to simply stay in their homes and prevent separation from citizen children.
We’ll also share about their newly released documentary and an opportunity to host showings in your own congregation with MA TPS Committee speakers available for post-viewing conversations.
Hosted by: The MA TPS Committee, Episcopal City Mission, UU Mass Action, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, UniteBoston, and Merrimack Valley Project, and Essex County Community Organization