Thread: TPS isn't broken; doesn't need fixing

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/ne ... 658589.htm

Posted on Thu, Jan. 19, 2006



TPS isn't broken; doesn't need fixing
OUR OPINION: POLICY SERVES USEFUL PURPOSE FOR U.S., CENTRAL AMERICA



The U.S. government offers Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to foreign nationals for good reasons: It is both humane and practical. These should remain the guiding principles in the case of 300,000 Central Americans legally living in the United States under TPS designation. Their safety and their countries' ability to reabsorb them without hardship should determine whether or not their TPS grants should be extended.

The decision shouldn't be driven by anti-immigrant sentiment or misguided border-security concerns. To forcefully deport 300,000 people to countries that cannot provide them shelter or jobs would hurt U.S. relations with foreign allies. Worse, it would divert enforcement resources from more-pressing national-security threats.

Working legally

Under the law, TPS may be granted when a natural disaster, ongoing armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions either make it unsafe for undocumented immigrants to return to their homeland or prevent governments from handling the returns.

Historically, the U.S. government has used wide discretion in offering TPS. Conditions in Haiti, for example, fit the TPS criteria; political violence, hurricanes and floods have ravaged the country for years. Yet Haitians' requests for TPS in the United States fall on deaf ears. Another example: TPS is initially granted for 18 months. Yet Liberians have had TPS or other relief from deportation since 1991.

The U.S. government granted TPS to undocumented Hondurans and Nicaraguans after Hurricane Mitch devastated their homelands in 1998. TPS for Salvadorans came in 2001 after earthquakes killed more than 1,000 people and demolished 220,000 homes. Today more than 220,000 Salvadorans, 70,000 Hondurans and 3,600 Nicaraguans have TPS. They work legally and are among those who send billions of dollars a year in remittances that benefit home countries.

Loyal allies

El Salvador is a good example. Of the $2.5 billion in remittances sent to El Salvador from here, an estimated $250 million is sent by Salvadorans with TPS. That money helps to rebuild the country and its economy, which in turn eases the pressure for other Salvadorans to cross the border illegally for work in the United States. Ending TPS would antagonize a loyal ally and the only Latin American nation to keep troops in Iraq. That measure also could weaken popular support for U.S.-friendly politicians in all three countries.

Under TPS, these Central Americans are registered with immigration authorities and pay U.S. taxes. They are not a threat to national security. In fact, many of them would be prime candidates for earned legalization or visas that would exist if Congress would enact comprehensive immigration reforms that respond to the needs of our economy.

End TPS NOW. The US should not be a dumping ground for all of the worlds problems. Just because some third world cesspool experiences a natural disaster doesn't mean we need or should open up the flood gates for their huddled masses. We don't need any more immigration, we need alot less immigration. We don't have the money, we don't have the resources, we don't have the living space. You would think at some point common sense would take over and you would think that people would realize that as rich as America is, there is still a limit as to how many people we can take in as a nation.

El Salvador is a good example. Of the $2.5 billion in remittances sent to El Salvador from here, an estimated $250 million is sent by Salvadorans with TPS. That money helps to rebuild the country and its economy, which in turn eases the pressure for other Salvadorans to cross the border illegally for work in the United States. Ending TPS would antagonize a loyal ally and the only Latin American nation to keep troops in Iraq. That measure also could weaken popular support for U.S.-friendly politicians in all three countries.

El Salvador? Do you mean the same country that exports hundreds of thousands of MS-13 vermin into the country? That 2.5 billion in remittance is our money, it should be going to our economy. If El Salvadorans are so damn concerned about rebuilding their own country then they can do it in their own country and not off of the backs of American tax payers. Their problems aren't American problems. When they start footing the bill for some of our problems then we'll talk.

Antagonizing a loyal ally and the only Latin American nation to keep troops in Iraq? What the 13 peasants with pitch forks that you sent over as token support? Don't make me laugh. I'm sure the fate of the Iraqi's all lies in the support from those many mighty El Salvadoran soldiers. LOL! Those 13 soldiers are probably a bunch of women raping, drug dealing MS-13 vermin.

Under TPS, these Central Americans are registered with immigration authorities and pay U.S. taxes. They are not a threat to national security. In fact, many of them would be prime candidates for earned legalization or visas that would exist if Congress would enact comprehensive immigration reforms that respond to the needs of our economy.

Call me crazy, but I really don't think you have Americas best interest at heart when your laying down this pile of horsefeathers. If anybody really thinks that these so called immigrants are no threat especially when many of them are criminals and gang members and make up more than 25 percent of the prison population and actually pay taxes either has their head up their a## or vehemently supports them which makes them a traitor to the US or both. How are they paying taxes when they are sending almost all of their income (which they all get under the table) back home and only keep enough to just get by on? If they were paying taxes then they wouldn't have any problems filing a tax return. The only taxes they would possibly pay is sales tax on the stuff they buy and that's a complete joke. Lets please call comprehensive reform what it really is, AMNESTY. Please stop putting more lipstick on the same pig, it's still not attractive and it still sucks.

I also don't hear one word about all of the social services and tax payer benefits that are consumed by this massive horde.