CPC Statement on Nepal's Temporary Protected Status
On April 26, 2018, the Trump Administration announced termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepal. The termination will take effect June 24th, 2019. The TPS program is designed to provide temporary legal US residence and work authorization to countries affected by armed conflict or natural disaster.
In 2015, Nepal was granted TPS after a series of devastating April and May earthquakes. Since then, 14,791 Nepalis have benefited from the designation, with 9,000 continuing to reside in the US.
The effects of the 2015 Nepali earthquakes are likely familiar to Chinese-American communities who remember the heartbreak of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Like Sichuan, the effects in Nepal were particularly brutal because of socio-geographic factors. Poor construction, landslides and avalanches, and limited infrastructure impeded aid and contributed to the number of casualties and injuries. After the earthquake, 650,000 families were relocated. Two and a half years after the Nepalese earthquake, it was estimated only 12% of aid had been distributed, and as of last summer, it was estimated that two-thirds still lived in temporary shelter.
For these reasons, Nepal was granted Temporary Protected Status. The rebuild efforts are in part due to TPS recipients, whose savings are sent home to support families while their work and businesses contribute to the US economy and tax base.
"CPC condemns the Trump Administration's decision to end TPS for Nepal and stands firmly opposed to the pattern of federal policies that uproot families and their security," said Wayne Ho, CPC President and CEO. "We urge Congress to take action on the American Promise Act 2017 (H.R. 4253), the SECURE Act (S. 2144), and the ASPIRE TPS Act 2017 (H.R 4384), to provide pathways to permanent residency for TPS holders. Our voices are stronger together. We call on every community to push our elected officials to action."
Immigrant families from the following countries receive Temporary Protected Status. Honduras's TPS decision will happen in the coming month.
