HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF SALVADORANS AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS MAY BE FORCED TO LEAVE THE U.S.
Free Legal Services May
be Available for County Residents Detained and Facing Deportation
The
Prince George’s County Council and the residents we serve celebrate the
strength of diversity in our communities. Immigrants are an integral part of the vibrant fabric of America and in
Prince George’s County, and they continue to make immeasurable contributions to
our collective community story.
Today’s policy announcement by the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, cancels Temporary Protected Status (TPS), provisional residency permits for hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans, who could now be forced to leave the United States.
The
TPS program has protected immigrants from deportation when there is conflict or
natural disaster in their home countries. Under the new federal policy however,
such protection is ended, and Salvadorans now have until September 2019 to
leave the U.S. or find a way to reside legally. Federal immigration decisions ending the offer for temporary legal
status are also similarly affecting Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Hondurans.
The
state of Maryland is home to one of the largest community of Salvadorans across
the nation under the TPS program, and many of them reside here in Prince
George’s County. As contributing
members of our communities, these residents are parents, family members, homeowners,
business owners, workers and neighbors. We agree with our colleague, Council Member Deni Taveras, who represents
many of the County’s immigrant residents. Their sudden deportation under this new policy will have a significant
impact.
“Maryland,
and Prince George’s County, would lose millions of dollars annually in economic
costs and much greater social costs if residents with TPS status are forced
into the shadows. These residents have made Prince George’s County their home
after fleeing violence, war, or natural disasters. They are local
entrepreneurs, homeowners, and our neighbors. We all will be affected if
thousands of Prince George’s County residents are uprooted after, in many
cases, being part of our community for decades.”
The
Prince George’s County Council is working to support our County’s immigrant
population, and stands in solidarity with those who oppose ending the TPS
program and forcing the deportation of immigrants who have lived and worked in
our country and communities for many years. We urge Members of Congress to act quickly to create legislation that
provides a viable path to citizenship or legal permanent residency.
County residents who are detained and are facing deportation may be eligible for free legal services through the Immigrant Services and Language Access Initiative or ISLA, a partnership of the Prince George’s County Council, Prince George’s County Government, the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (CAIR), the Vera Institute of Justice, and CASA de Maryland.
If a
family member has been detained, contact 202.331.3320, extension 7027 to leave
a voicemail. Your call will be
returned. If you are detained, follow
posted instructions at the correctional facility to call the CAIR Coalition,
then dial *1686. Calls are answered
Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit https://www.caircoalition.org/need-help .
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