You Don’t Have to Go Home, But You Can’t Stay Here
“267,000 TPS holders [are living] in limbo after US Department of Homeland Security told them their legal residency would end.” [1](Pardilla, 2018) In what appears to be the very near future, those who will become undocumented and their families will be forced to make difficult decisions. They will have to determine whether to return “home” to uncertain fates in unstable homelands or try and figure out how they will remain safely together in an environment that is growing ever more hostile towards them.
Immigrants from El Salvador make up the largest group of those affected by the latest shift in immigration policy. When Temporary Protected Status (TPS) runs out for those affected by natural disasters in their homelands close to 200,000 immigrants will lose their legal residency status in the US.
“US Residents With Protected Status –
El Salvador: 195,000
Honduras: 57,000
Nepal: 8,950
Syria: 5,800
Nicaragua: 2,550
Sudan: 1,040
Somalia: 250
South Sudan: 70 “
[2](Pardilla, 2018)
2019 does not look much better for Nicaraguans whose TPS will expire on January 5th of that year followed by Haitians whose protection will end on July 22nd of the same year. Many of these immigrants and their families are anxious of what they see as the impending doom they are set to face.
“Many of the families about to face immigration based disruptions in their lives are being forced to come up with contingency plans that involve the undocumented family member[s] leaving their US born children.” [3](Gorman, 2017) One family from Mexico is planning to leave their twelve year old daughter in the care of her uncle in the event that both her parents who are undocumented are forced to leave. What kind of policy separates a 12 year old girl from her parents?
One unforeseen side effect of these new policies is the negative effects on health and wellness in the immigrant community. The stresses of these impending separations are the cause of undue pressure on the health and well-being of members of these communities. “According to a report released by the Kaiser Family Foundation – the fear and stress of the situation is compromising children’s health, possibly for the long term. It is also causing [families] to withdraw from public health programs such as Medicaid which covers people with low incomes and women, infants and children which provides nutritional assistance.” [4](Gorman, 2017)
The trouble with painting all undocumented immigrants with the same wide and unforgiving brush is that in doing so, you also remove some of their humanity. Many Americans would be able to get behind forcing out those with criminal histories where warranted. Taking away the law abiding parents of a young girl however seems like a step too far in the wrong direction. Policies should not only serve the greater good but also need to be beneficial to those who are most vulnerable.
[1] Pardilla, Amber (January 8th, 2018) El Salvador Immigrants Worried as DHS Mulls End of Protected Status http://bit.ly/2BjHF7G
[2] Pardilla, Amber (January 8th, 2018) El Salvador Immigrants Worried as DHS Mulls End of Protected Status http://bit.ly/2BjHF7G
[3] Gorman, Anna (December 22nd, 2017) Fear of crackdown affecting immigrant families’ health, wellbeing http://bit.ly/2mXcOc3
[4] Gorman, Anna (December 22nd, 2017) Fear of crackdown affecting immigrant families’ health, wellbeing http://bit.ly/2mXcOc3
