Guest Column

Temporary Protective Status (TPS) Should Be Granted to Immigrants Impacted by Hurricane Katrina

During times of tragedy, undocumented immigrants do not exist.  In the 1990s thousands of immigrants flocked to work in New Orleans and the other states that were impacted by Hurricane Katrina.  Most were Honduran and Mexican immigrants looking for jobs to send money back to their home countries.

 

Ironically, in 1998 thousands of Hondurans/Central Americans were force to emigrate to New Orleans and other Southern states due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in Central America.  Some of those individuals were granted Temporary Protective Status (TPS) due to a foreign natural disaster.  Now it is imperative that the White House provide TPS for the undocumented immigrants who were negatively affected by Hurricane Katrina, an internal national disaster. 

 

These immigrants are the baby sisters, dishwashers, bus boys, and agricultural workers, better known as the invisible undocumented workers.  During the coverage of the human tragedy, it seemed that these thousands of immigrants were nowhere to be seen.  Where did they go and what has happened to them and their U.S. born children?

 

Some Latino community organizations are asking President George W. Bush and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to grant Temporary Protective Status to the undocumented immigrants who were negatively impacted by Hurricane Katrina.  This would allow them to obtain work permits and to be eligible to receive the full aid being provided by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  

 

Hurricane Katrina brought back memories of the 1994 Northridge earthquake and how many people were impacted when their houses or apartments were destroyed.  Thousands became homeless and FEMA did respond under the leadership of President Bill Clinton.  However, thousands of undocumented immigrants were not eligible and did not seek federal aid even though the earthquake affected their U.S. born children.

 

Something similar is now occurring in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama  where Hurricane Katrina hit. Undocumented immigrants are not seeking any type of aid since they are afraid that they will be asked for their legal status and feel that they may face deportation.  Most of these immigrants have U.S. born children who are entitled to receive economic or housing aid but their parents are afraid.

 

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks U.S. immigration laws became more stringent and the atmosphere in the United States has become more anti immigrant.  The bulk of this backlash goes towards the majority of immigrants who are from Latin America and other countries.  The Mexican and Central American immigrants living in Louisiana and other states along the Gulf of Mexico now face the dilemma of whether to stay there or move to other surrounding states or urban cities where Latino immigrants are more commonly seen in the workforce.  Many are now homeless and do not know where to seek help. 

 

The Mexican, Salvadoran, Honduran, and other Consulate offices have searched and identified many of their nationals who were impacted by the Hurricane.  Some have relocated to Texas and California.  Others are still wondering what the future holds for them and their children.  TPS would definitely help these families to reestablish their lives. 

 

Temporary Protective Status (TPS) is not a “blanket amnesty” or an invitation for further illegal immigration.  TPS is a humanitarian legal tool that would help thousands of these families to continue working while strengthening the local economies.  These immigrants would no longer have to live underground just to work and pay their rents and millions of dollars in taxes. 

 

Granting TPS would help reinforce our national security laws since these individuals will be clearly identified and full background checks will be conducted.  Also, these immigrants will be able to obtain valid social security cards and drivers licenses.  They will become “documented immigrants.”

 

Latino immigrants have been part of the social, economic, and political fabric of Southern states for decades.  They have worked hard in the restaurant, janitorial, construction, agricultural, and many other labor sectors.  The majority are law-abiding citizens who just want to protect their U.S. born children.  That is also what the average American citizen wants, a secure future for their children.    

 

The George W. Bush administration, along with his top advisor Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, can leave a lasting impression among these thousands of immigrants who would benefit from a Temporary Protective Status (TPS).  Let us not forget our humanity in times of tragedies; immigrants are also human beings with feelings that deserve humanitarian aid provided by the world’s wealthiest and most powerful country.

 

Former President’s George Bush and Bill Clinton played heroic roles when they led efforts to help the survivors of the Tsunami’s in Asia and they are now helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina through the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund (http://www.bushclintonkatrinafund.org/).

 

President George W. Bush can set an example that the U.S. government does care about poor African Americans and poor immigrants.  A big step would be to grant TPS for these deserving and hard working immigrants and their children.

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(Randy Jurado Ertll, former congressional staff member in Washington D.C. – Contact 626-628-5844).

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