November 17, 2021
Contact: Lauri Alvarez, Program Associate
lalvarez@lawg.org, 202-546-7010
One year after hurricanes Eta and Iota, LAWG joins advocates in calling on Biden Administration to Grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Central American nations
Washington D.C. – Today, exactly one year after Hurricanes Eta and Iota devastated Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, LAWG will join advocates, human rights activists, faith leaders, and directly impacted individuals in calling on the Biden Administration to immediately grant Temporary Protected Status designations for these Central American countries in a rally and protest at Black Lives Matter Plaza at 16th & H street NW at 11am.
Communities across Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua are all still reeling from the effects of the back-to-back hurricanes and already dire situations of food insecurity, livelihoods, and displacement have only worsened since then. There have been no TPS designations granted for these countries based on the hurricanes even though they fit squarely within the criteria required. New designations are urgent and would prevent further destabilization of the region and allow TPS beneficiaries in the United States to send remittances to the region, boosting the economies of those nations.This rally follows months of organizing by advocates including letters from more than 70 members of Congress and 200 advocate groups.
“It is past time for the Biden Administration to grant TPS designations for countries in Central America impacted by the twin hurricanes. It’s been more than a year and communities across the region are still suffering or have already migrated because they couldn’t survive. TPS was created to help communities harmed from natural disasters exactly like this. The Biden Administration should act now to grant these countries with TPS. This would help communities in the United States and in Central America. This can’t wait,” states LAWG co-director, Daniella Burgi-Palomino.
