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Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Urges a Reversal of the Decision to End Temporary Protected Status for Hondurans Living in the United States

May 7, 2018

Calls on Congress to pass H.R. 4253, the American Promise Act

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PRESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robin K. Chand

May 4, 2018 202-225-3816

Press Statement

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Urges a Reversal of the Decision to End Temporary Protected Status for Hondurans Living in the United States and calls on Congress to pass H.R. 4253, the American Promise Act

Jackson Lee: "The Trump Administration's ill-conceived decision to cancel Temporary Protected Status for Honduran nationals threatens to tear thousands of families apart while undermining efforts to promote stability in Central America."

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, issued the following statement about the Trump Administration's decision to end Temporary Protected Status for nearly 57,000 Honduran nationals who will now be forced to return home:

"The decision to end Temporary Protected Status for 57,000 Honduran nationals, including more than 8,000 in Texas, is insensitive, appalling and offensive. Forcing them to return home is inhumane and stands diametrically inapposite to our country's longstanding informal edict: to welcome the tired, poor and huddled masses.

I am troubled by this deeply thoughtless and cruel decision. Hondurans living in the United States have been contributing members of his country and have been living in this country for an average of 22 years. Over the coming decade, this decision will cost the country over $10 billion in American gross domestic product. It will likely induce a refugee crisis, fueled by shortages of food, housing—all in the face of escalating gang violence. In a certain respect, the decision to invite a needless crisis is consistent with the experience of this president.

I urge the White House to reconsider this ill-conceived decision and call on my colleagues to pass H.R. 4253, the American Promise Act, and provide those in the United States under TPS to remain in the country and be given an opportunity to pursue a path to citizenship.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas's 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is a Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations.

Issues:Immigration