LOS ANGELES – According to a member of a Filipino-American delegation that met with US State Department representatives on January 23, the decision on the Philippines’ request for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) could come in as early as a few weeks, and as late as two months’ time.
Pilipino Workers Center Southern California Executive Director Aquilina Soriano told the Asian Journalvia email that the delegation of Fil-Am leaders and immigration advocates met with staff members of the Office of Population, Refugees & Migration, and the Department of East Asian & Pacific Affairs – two key bureaus under the US State Department , which are involved in making recommendations regarding the process of granting TPS to the Philippines.
The Office of Population, Refugees & Migration is headed by Asst. Sec. Anne Richard, while the Department of East Asian & Pacific Affairs is headed by Asst. Sec. Daniel Russel.
Most of the delegation members were part of a coalition called “Relief 2 Recovery,” a national public campaign advocating for the granting of the TPS for Filipinos in the US as part of the effort to aid the families affected by the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan.
In December 2013, the Philippine government officially requested the granting of TPS onto the Philippines from Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This request came at the heels of the unprecedented devastation caused by Haiyan in Central Philippines: leaving over 6,000 dead, more than 27,000 injured, and over 4 million displaced from their homes.
During a designated period of TPS for the Philippines, eligible Filipino nationals will not be removed from the US for a certain period of time, can obtain employment authorization documents (EADs), and may be granted travel authorization. This will allow them to play a more significant role in relief work in the Philippines.
With the EADs, Filipinos can secure income opportunities to be able to send financial aid to their families back home. They will also be able to return to the Philippines to physically help in their families’ recovery, or grieve for the loved ones they lost during the calamity.
Timeframe revealed
Based on their conversations on Thursday, Soriano said that a timeframe for the TPS decision has been revealed.
“They said that they are going to answer each of the letters that [were] sent in and that their higher ups are interested in finishing up this process, although there are still many bureaucratic processes that still need to happen before the final recommendation is made,” Soriano said.
“They said that they don’t want this to go on for months, but we are definitely looking at weeks and could be over a month [sic].”
State Department staffers indicated that officials didn’t want the TPS decision-making process to go on for months, Soriano said.
In a follow up communication with the Asian Journal, Soriano clarified that the timeline is “at least a few weeks,” but their talks with the staffers were “a little unclear as to whether it could take a month or two.”
“There is now a hard [and] fast timeline on this process and they said that definitely it is a bureaucratic process that will take time, but that everyone involved is interested in getting it done,” she said.
Soriano said that both bureaus are in the process of gathering the material and information necessary to make a recommendation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the TPS appeal. State Department attorneys are also reviewing available information to make a legal determination on whether or not the Philippines meets the requirements of the TPS statute.
The ‘letters’ that the bureau staffers mentioned refer to the letters sent in by different individuals, groups, organizations, and politicians supporting the granting of TPS to the Philippines.
“They said that definitely, they have been receiving the letters and that many are filled with personal stories that have been touching,” Soriano said.
Aside from individuals who would be directly impacted by the TPS decision, other letter senders included the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and bipartisan lawmakers from the US Senate and the US House of Representatives.
Strong presentation and advocacy
Aside from Soriano, other members of the delegation included Andrea Mercado of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Erin Oshiro of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), Fr. Patrick Longalong of St. Francis de Sales Church, Gregory Cendana from the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Jose Antonio Vargas of Define American, Leah Obias of Damayan Migrant Workers Association, Rio Guerrero of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA), and Brittany Young of AILA.
During the meeting, the Filipnos presented information on the scope of Haiyan’s devastation and argued through qualitative and quantitative date that the disaster has had a nationwide impact on the Philippines.
“We presented a legal brief prepared by NFALA, AILA, NYLAG, and AAAJ that clarifies the actual standards that need to be meet as defined by the statute but also by previous TPS grantings [sic],” Soriano narrated.
The delegation also showed how big, broad and well-organized the Relief 2 Recovery national campaign is. They presented to the bureau staffers the thousands of signatures they gathered from a petition on moveon.org.
Throughout their campaign, Relief 2 Recovery officials and volunteers had also been placing phone calls to the State Department appealing for the positive decision on the TPS request.
The staffers at the meeting noted that they have “definitely been taking notice of all the calls” that the Relief 2 Recovery campaign members have been making, and it is a “very well-coordinated campaign.”
“So we can definitely see that our campaign is making an impact on the decision-making process and that they [State Department representatives] know that this issue is very important to the Filipino-American community, as well as [the] larger American community,” Soriano said.
Crucial weeks ahead
According to Soriano, her perspective on the meeting’s outcome was positive, and that the delegation was able to confirm that the letters and phone calls of appeal have been making a definite impression on the Department.
She also pointed out that the next few weeks will be crucial. Sometime in the near future, the State Department will give a recommendation to DHS in support of or against granting TPS to the Philippines, then, Homeland Security will make a final decision.
“From this point, we will continue to let the State Department, Department of Homeland Security and the White House know about how important and necessary this issue is,” Soriano said.
She said that Filipinos and Filipino-Americans across the US can and should get involved in advocating for TPS. They can call their own Senators and Representatives to ask them to lobby with the State Department and DHS in support of the Philippines’ cause.
Soriano said that Filipinos can also support Relief 2 Recovery. The coalition is now looking for Filipinos with personal stories and testimonials on how they have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
She also revealed that there will be a “big lobby day” on February 7, where local delegations across the US will approach Senators and Representatives’ offices to urge them to put pressure on the State Department and DHS, to grant TPS to the Philippines.
Further information about Relief 2 Recovery and its work can be found on www.facebook.com/tps4filipinos, or www.tps4filipinos.org/. Soriano also said that the PWC’s mailing list on www.pwcsc.org will be giving regular updates on the TPS developments as well.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek January 29-31, 2014 Sec A pg.1)
