ALTHOUGH nearly two weeks has passed since the Philippines formally requested that that US extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Filipinos residing in the US due to devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, there has been no response from the Whitehouse. Political leaders and immigration advocates have been urging the Obama Administration to act since Haiyan struck last month, killing over 6,000 Filipinos and displacing millions more. Perhaps the Administration will wake up and recognize the need for TPS relief to Filipinos and allow the millions of those impacted, both in the US and in the Philippines, to rest a little easier this Christmas season.
Last month, Typhoon Haiyan landed violently on the Philippines, resulting in the confirmed deaths of at least 6,000 Filipino citizens and the displacement of at least 4 million more. In all the Super Storm has negatively impacted more than 12 million people from the height of the typhoon and through its aftermath. Since then, more than 200 Filipino-American organizations across the US, backed by many Senator Chuck Schumer and other members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, the Catholic Church and other NGOs have requested for the additional immigration relief measures that a TPS designation would provide to Filipinos.
Although the US Department of Homeland Security has authorized certain limited benefits to Filipinos affected by Haiyan, these do not go nearly far enough. According to the USCIS, the Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. TPS is a grant of a non-deportable temporary status and work authorization (and possibly travel authorization). USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country may also be granted TPS.
TPS has historically been implemented to assist both countries and their nationals residing in the US ameliorate hardships caused by natural disasters, civil wars and similar circumstances. In recent times, El Salvador and Haiti were designated for TPS after being devastated by earthquakes in 2001 and 2010 respectively and Nicaragua and Honduras after they were affected by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. According to Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, a formal request to designate the Philippines under TPS was officially conveyed on Friday, 13 December, by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. to the DHS.
TPS is necessary at this time to allow the Filipino-American Community to more effectively assist family members and other victims of Haiyan. TPS is not a “green card,” nor does it lead to any other permanent status. It is merely a humanitarian gesture that would allow eligible Filipinos currently in the US to support the long-term relief and rehabilitation efforts in the country.
Thus far, the White House’s silence on the question of TPS for the Philippines has been deafening. Rallies have been held throughout the US, in such cities with large Filipino populations as Los Angeles and New York, in an effort to get the Whitehouse to listen. Individuals can contribute to these efforts by contacting their US, State and local representatives and urging them to support TPS for the Philippines as soon as possible.
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Daniel P. Hanlon is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law and a principal of Hanlon Law Group, PC, located at 225 S. Lake Ave., 11th Floor in Pasadena, California; Tel. No. (626) 585-8005. Hanlon Law Group, PC is a “full-service Immigration Law firm.” E-mail: [email protected] and www.hanlonlawgroup.com.
