Typhoon Haiyan was one of the most powerful storms ever recorded, wreaking devastation and tragedy that continue to take its toll on the Philippines, with 1.9 million homeless and more than 600,000 displaced. While the United States is directing much-needed food and relief to the region, another form of humanitarian aid would be to designate the Philippines with Temporary Protected Status, which would stop deportations and avoid the burden the absorbing thousands of its nationals currently abroad during this national emergency, while empowering Filipino immigrants here in the U.S. to more effectively send aid back to their home country.
Relief 2 Recovery; Temporary Protected Status for Filipinos
This MoveOn.org petition by Relief 2 Recovery urges the U.S. government to designate the Philippines for temporary protected status (TPS) under Section 244B of the Immigration and Nationality Act, with consideration to Typhoon Haiyan and ongoing disaster relief efforts.
Petition BackgroundSign the petition here. For further information, check out Relief 2 Recovery on Facebook.
Since Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda 1.9 million of Filipinos have become homeless and 600,000 displaced. At the same time, many Filipinos who live and work in the U.S. are a key source of aid for their families in the Philippines and are at risk of deportation. It would only burden an already strained infrastructure for the Philippines to reabsorb thousands of its nationals currently abroad during this national emergency. TPS would stop deportations and provide working authorization that will empower Filipinos here in the US to more effectively aid their own home country. DHS and USCIS acted quickly in a very similar circumstances to designate Haiti and El Salvador for TPS after massive earthquakes. That response can and should be repeated for the Philippines.