NaFFAA Calls on DHS to Grant Temporary Protected Status to Filipinos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                      Contact:    Bing Cardenas Branigin

Nov. 22, 2013                                                                               bing.branigin@naffaa-national.org

                                                                                                   Tel. 202-361-1024

                                               

                                                                                                  Jon Melegrito

                                                                                                  jon.melegrito@naffaa-national.org

                                                                                                   Tel: 202-361-0296

                   

FilAm Organizations Urged to Endorse

Extension of TPS

 

 

Washington, D.C.  The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate the Philippines as a country for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

 

Currently allowed under immigration laws for countries impacted by a natural disaster resulting in a “substantial, but temporary, disruption of living conditions,” TPS will provide temporary immigration relief to undocumented Filipino immigrants presently residing in the U.S.

 

In a letter to DHS Acting Secretary Rand Beers, Navarra  wrote that “this benefit will alleviate their fears of deportation to a devastated country and allow them to work and stay in the US temporarily. With this authorization, Filipino nationals can continue providing material and financial support to the homeland, especially at a time when they are in dire need of help.”

 

J.T. Mallonga, NaFFAA National Vice Chair and President of the Filipino American Legal and Defense Fund (FALDEF), explains that there are precedents where the U.S. administration acted on similar requests. “Following the devastating earthquake which struck Haiti two years ago, the U.S designated TPS to Haitian nationals, allowing them to continue living and working in the country for 18 months,” Mallonga said. “The same should be done to Filipinos, and it must be done soon.” Other nationals from countries devastated by natural disasters, such as Honduras, Sudan and El Salvador, have also been granted TPS before.

 

Mallonga further explains that “while TPS provides temporary legal status for Filipinos already in the US, it will not necessarily lead to permanent residency. Also, TPS does not provide humanitarian aid or legal status for people not already here.  TPS may only be granted for 18 months. Beneficiaries will be granted a temporary employment authorization document as proof of authorized stay in the US for that period.  Qualified TPS applicants will then be allowed to remain in the US with a work permit.  This is only meant to be a temporary immigration benefit.”
          

When the Obama administration announced the designation of TPS for Haitian nationals in 2011, Mallonga notes that the 100,000 - 200,000 Haitian immigrants estimated by the Department of Homeland Security to be in the U.S. without authorization were not subject to deportation. The estimated 270,000 undocumented Filipino immigrants will similarly be given the same benefit if TPS is granted.

 

USCIS Reminds Filipino Nationals Impacted by Typhoon Haiyan of Available Immigration Relief Measures

Source: USCIS
Release Date: November 15, 2013
    

In light of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (named “Yolanda” by Philippine authorities), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would like to remind Filipino nationals that they may be eligible for certain immigration relief measures if requested.

USCIS understands that a natural disaster can affect an individual’s ability to establish or maintain lawful immigration status in the United States. Therefore, Filipino nationals impacted by Typhoon Haiyan may be eligible to benefit from the following immigration relief measures:

• Change or extension of nonimmigrant status for an individual currently in the United States, even when the request is filed after the authorized period of admission has expired;
• Extension of certain grants of parole made by USCIS;
• Extension of certain grants of advance parole, and expedited processing of advance parole requests;
• Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;
• Expedited processing of immigrant petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs);
• Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, where appropriate; and
• Assistance to LPRs stranded overseas without immigration or travel documents, such as Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards). USCIS and the Department of State will coordinate on these matters when the LPR is stranded in a place that has no local USCIS office.

For more information on USCIS humanitarian programs, visit www.uscis.gov or call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

Fashion for #ReliefPH : Clothing Sale to Help the Philippines Rebuild

We all want to help the Filipino people. BUT you're not sure what you can do to help. You don't know if what you can offer can make a difference.

There are so many people organizing events (bless their kind hearts). So HERE's a FUN event... that I believe you can have fun and make a BIG difference:

Fashion For Relief: Clothing Sale to Help the Philippines Rebuild

Harnessing the power of fashion to outfit relief efforts after Typhoon Haiyan. A benefit sponsored by Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) and the Philippine Consulate General of NY.

What? Spearheaded by young New York women born in the Philippines, this curated clothing sale will raise funds to directly benefit survivors of the typhoon in the Philippines. They are collecting goods from retailers and fashionable New Yorkers, and pooling everything in one sale event at the Philippine Consulate General, New Yorke. Expect styles from Diane von Furstenberg and other style icons, refreshments, DJ sets, and more!

Why? Stilettos and fur coats won’t help typhoon survivors in the Philippines, but the funds raised from selling fashionable goods will go a long way in purchasing desperately needed supplies. Whether you donate, buy, or both, rest assured that every dollar raised will go directly to relief efforts.

Where and when? Donations accepted at FALDEF, 4 W 43rd Street, New York, NY, from Nov. 15-Nov. 22 noon-5pm. Sale event will be held at the Philippine Consulate General, 556 5th Ave, New York, NY 10036 on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013 from 11am-4:30pm.

Want to learn more? For the latest updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/philippinesfashionrelief