TPS Holders Vow to Continue Fighting for Long-Term Protections in Wake of Temporary Reprieve from the Court for Hundreds of Thousands of People
San Francisco — In response to the October 3 court order in Ramos v. Nielsen blocking the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 300,000 people from Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador who have lived legally in the United States for years or decades, today the Department of Homeland Security submitted a proposed implementation plan.
The plan ensures that TPS holders from those countries will continue to have lawful status for so long as the court’s order remains in effect, as well as for at least six months if the order is reversed on appeal. It also prevents the Trump Administration from issuing a new termination notice that attempts to comply with the Court’s order during the appellate process.
"We are hardworking people trying to survive and give our families a better life. The temporary relief ordered by the court is a start, but does not provide the protections that we truly need," said Orlando Zepeda, TPS holder and plaintiff in the litigation. "The judge's order has given us enough breathing room to continue the fight for legal residence and permanent protections. We know our work is far from over."
"The courage of TPS holders who have fought back has resulted in the important temporary relief ordered by the court," said Emi MacLean, Co-Legal Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and one of the lawyers representing plaintiffs. "We will continue to challenge the illegal and unconstitutional TPS terminations in court as TPS holders seek a long-term political solution."
"We are disappointed that the Trump administration has chosen to appeal the Court's order in a further effort to sow division in our country. Our clients are TPS holders who have contributed to our nation for years and their school-aged children, who were born in this country. We call on the administration to stop its campaign to tear apart these families and harm these members of our communities," said Ahilan Arulanantham, senior counsel at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California and attorney for the plaintiffs.
"While this plan gives thousands of TPS holders greater clarity about their legal status for the coming months, TPS holders continue to be in legal limbo," said Esther Portillo, Campaign Coordinator for the National TPS Alliance. "We need Congress to pass legislation to ensure long-term protections for all TPS holders. TPS holders are inspiring a new movement for immigrant dignity and justice. We will not give in to fear. We will continue the fight."
The plaintiffs are represented by NDLON, the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, and the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP. The plaintiffs are members of diverse organizations fighting to defend TPS, including the National TPS Alliance, CARECEN-Los Angeles, UNITE-HERE, and African Communities Together. The National TPS Alliance is a campaign anchored by CARECEN-LA, NDLON, Adhikaar, the Haitian Bridge Alliance, and Undocublack. There are currently over 50 local TPS committees across the country.
The filing is available here: Defendants' Proposal to Implement Preliminary Injunction Order
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