Churches urge protected
status for Haitians currently in US[10-8-04]
The following Action Alert was prepared
by Church World Service of the national Council of Churches. Your urgent
attention is important.
It will be posted in the Alert box on the Washington Office web page
with a sample letter for you to send to your representative. Go to
www.pcusa.org/washington
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please contact President George W. Bush
and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge asking for
TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR HAITIANS
CURRENTLY IN THE UNITED STATES
1,970 have died in Haiti after
floodwaters raged through the island in the wake of tropical storm Jeanne,
UN officials say. At least another 884 are missing.
Yesterday Interim Prime Minister Gerard
Latortue requested Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians presently
in the U.S.A.
In addition to the havoc wreaked by the
storm, continuing political unrest, conflict, and chaos make the country
extremely dangerous. Requiring Haitians to return to their country under
present conditions seriously threaten their security.
Your advocacy in support of Latortue's
request is crucial at this time.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will
permit Haitians presently in the United States to reside here and qualify
for work authorization for 18 months. It would thus guarantee their
well-being and safety until the country has recovered from the recent storms
and there is political stability in the country.
CALL and/or WRITE THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY RIDGE IMMEDIATELY
(A sample letter follows)
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
202 456-1111
Fax: 202 456-2461
The Honorable Tom Ridge
Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
2001 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
202 282-8000
FAX - 202 282-8401
DATE
Dear Pres. Bush / Mr. Ridge:
Please grant the request of Interim Prime
Minister Gerard Latortue of Haiti and give Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
to Haitians presently in the United States. Close to than 2,000 people have
died in Haiti in the wake of tropical storm Jeanne. Another thousand are
missing. Over 3,000 died near the Haiti / Dominican Republic border in May
of this year. Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has declared the area
that was struck by Tropical Storm Jeanne a disaster area.
This grave natural disaster coupled with
the present political unrest and violence warrants this action to assure the
safety of Haitians presently in the United States.
TPS would permit Haitians presently in the
United States to remain here and qualify for work authorization. Eighteen
months of TPS will assure their safety until the country recovers from the
severe storm damage, elections are held, and order and security are restored
in Haiti.
TPS program was established to provide
protection to people who are temporarily unable to return to their
homelands. Please help the people in Haiti by permitting their friends and
relatives in the United States to remain here and to continue to send
support to a nation in crisis. Please affirm the United States tradition of
caring for and protecting persons in vulnerable situations by granting TPS
to Haitians.
Sincerely,
Your name and contact information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joan M. Maruskin
Washington Representative
CWS/Immigration and Refugee Program
110 Maryland Ave., NE, Suite 108
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 544-2350 Ext. 22
Fax: (202) 546-6232
e-mail: jmaruskin@churchworldservice.org
www.churchworldservice.org
====================
Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory
Director, Washington Office
Presbyterian Church (USA)
202-543-1126
110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 104
Washington, DC 20002
