Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Issues Statement on TPS for Honduran Nationals

NEW YORK, May 4 -- The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society issued the following statement by Melanie Nezer, senior vice president of public affairs:

On May 4, 2018, the Trump Administration ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 60,000 Honduran nationals and their families. TPS is a temporary humanitarian status that allows individuals to continue living and working the U.S. if natural disaster or armed conflict makes returning to their home country unsafe. Honduras has had TPS designation since 1999, when Hurricane Mitch devastated the country, killing 5,600 and leaving 1.4 million displaced. The situation in Honduras has become so dire that the government has formally asked that the U.S. extend their TPS designation. TPS for Honduran nationals will officially terminate on January 5, 2020.

In response to the administration's decision, "given the country's slow recovery from Hurricane Mitch and the level of widespread violence, terminating TPS for Hondurans who are our neighbors and friends and have contributed so much to our communities is simply inhumane. Putting more strain on Honduras through the return of nearly 60,000 people will place thousands of people in unnecessary danger."

"Honduras is still feeling the social and economic effects of Hurricane Mitch. Today, 38 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty and almost 700,000 people live without access to clean water. Thousands more face chronic hunger and homelessness - problems attributed to the destruction of the countries agricultural sector and infrastructure by the hurricane. Additionally, Honduras still has the second highest murder rate in the world, and almost 200,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to escape the extreme violence, corruption and political unrest in the country."

To read more about HIAS' work advocating for Temporary Protected Status, click here (https://www.hias.org/tagged/temporary-protected-status).