Res. No. 1923
Resolution urging the federal government to pass legislation that will establish a pathway to citizenship for Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries.
By Council Members Eugene, Barron, Brewer, Chin, Dromm, Jackson, James, Koo, Koppell, Mendez, Williams, Rodriguez, Palma and Van Bramer
Whereas, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals of designated countries; and
Whereas, The Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security may grant TPS to immigrants in the United States who are momentarily unable to securely return to their home countries due to ongoing armed conflict, the temporary effects of an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions, and such immigrants may not be removed from the United States during the period in which such status is in effect; and
Whereas, For example, on January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, the aftermath of which caused political unrest, unsanitary conditions, the outbreak of cholera, and extensive damage to the country's infrastructure; and
Whereas, In an effort to provide humanitarian relief to Haiti, on January 21, 2010, President Barack Obama granted TPS to Haiti and eligible nationals of Haiti; and
Whereas, The Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security has the authority to extend the designation of TPS between six and eighteen months; and
Whereas, During this time, TPS beneficiaries may obtain work authorization, but TPS status does not guarantee permanent resident status; and
Whereas, Currently there are nearly 300,000 TPS beneficiaries nationally, many of whom call New York City their home; and
Whereas, Currently eight countries, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Syria, Somali, Sudan and South Sudan have been granted TPS since its implementation in 1990; and
Whereas, Because TPS does not necessarily lead to U.S. citizenship, TPS beneficiaries would greatly benefit from the passage of comprehensive immigration reform or similar legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship, among other beneficiaries, for approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the United States; and
Whereas, Without the passage of legislation to facilitate permanent residency status for TPS beneficiaries, many are forced to stay on a temporary immigration status until the dissolution of their designation; and
Whereas, The invaluable contributions of immigrants, including TPS beneficiaries, to the City's economy are well documented and all such individuals should be provided with a pathway to citizenship; and
Whereas, Many TPS beneficiaries work, own homes, pay taxes, and raise families in New York City and beyond; and
Whereas, The enactment of such legislation would eliminate the difficulties TPS beneficiaries experience in obtaining permanent residency status in the United States; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges the federal government to pass legislation that will establish a pathway to citizenship for Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries.
JSM
LS# 4644
8/28/13