Support TPS for Guatemalans
From MIGUA: Movimiento de Inmigrantes Guatemaltecos en los Estados Unidos
Ask the U.S. government to support Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Guatemalans
Contacts:
Edgar Ayala ayaladesign@sbcglobal.net (510) 332-4187; Oakland, CA.
Carlos Gómez cargoand25@sbcglobal.net (773) 610-3053; Chicago IL
Claudia Carias julialapo@yahoo.com (646) 220-2460 New York
http://miguainfo.blogspot.com
Tropical Storm Agatha hit Central America on May 29, 2010, creating great devastation in El Salvador, Honduras and especially in Guatemala. The storm dropped the greatest amount of rain in Guatemalan history in just a few hours. To make matters worse, a few days earlier the Pacaya Volcano erupted sending millions of tons of ash and sand over one quarter of the country. Between the storm and the eruption, the devastation is enormous. Dozens of bridges collapsed, communities were flooded and crops destroyed.
Please help convince President Obama to grant Temporary Protection Status (TPS) to Guatemala. TPS would stop the deportation of Guatemalan citizens, who are in the US without authorization, to a country without resources to take them back. Over 387,790 Guatemalans were expelled from the US under the Obama Administration in 2009, a 5% increase from under Bush in 2008. El Salvador and Honduras already have TPS protection because of past natural disasters. Guatemala needs it today!
Ask the U.S. government to support Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Guatemalans currently in the U.S.
Contact President Obama and the Department of Homeland Security:
Call the Department of Homeland Security Comment Line today at 202-282-8495
[if unable to get through, call the White House Comment line at 202-456-1111 (Fax: 202-456-2461)] and urge them to grant TPS for Guatemalans.
WARINING TO GUATEMALAN IMMIGRANTS:
· President Obama HAS NOT approved TPS for Guatemalans yet. DO NOT pay money to any party offering to fill out a TPS application or advise you on how to apply.
· If TPS is granted, you will not need a lawyer, there are dozens of community service organizations that would assist you, PLEASE DO NOT flood community organizations or the Guatemalan Consulate with questions about how to applying for TPS, it hasn’t been granted yet!
· TPS IS NOT PERMAMENT RESIDENCE but a temporary suspension of removal or deportation. As with other adjustment of immigration status, some rules and filing fees would apply once, only if TPS is granted to Guatemalans.
RELIEF EFFORTS:
For financial and other relief assistance for Guatemalan victims, please contact:
1) CCDA, a community-based organization in Sololá, one of the hardest hit areas. The organization is providing emergency services in communities and coordinating with 10 local shelters. In addition to financial donations, the CCDA needs food, water, material goods, phone cards (TIGO), medical volunteers and equipment. Visit the CCDA blog <http://accionesccda.blogspot.com/>; and;
2) Asociación Civil Grupo Pro-Justicia Nueva Linda. The storm destroyed the encampment that the group maintains as a permanent presence in front of the Nueva Linda plantation (finca) to demand justice for the 2003 forced disappearance of leader Hector Reyes and a 2004 violent eviction that led to the death of 9 group members. The group estimates the losses as a result of tropical storm Agatha at $10,000. Read more and see pictures from the group here <http://www.nisgua.org/news_analysis/NuevaLindaAgatha.pdf>.
For disaster aid ONLY, please send your tax-deductible donations made out to NISGUA to:
NISGUA
c/o Melinda Van Slyke
228 East Jefferson Street
Spring Green, WI, 53588
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