McGovern Blasts Trump’s Move to End Protected Status for Immigrants from El Salvador

Tuesday, January 09, 2018

GoLcoalWorcester Political Team

Jim McGovern

U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern has released a statement condemning the move by President Donald Trump to end Temporary Protected Status for over 200,000 immigrants from El Salvador.

Read McGovern’s Statement Below

“Today’s move by President Trump to end the protections for these immigrants is sadly just his latest attack on these American communities. The Temporary Protected Status program has helped to provide refuge to thousands of immigrant families from El Salvador and throughout the region desperately fleeing warfare and disaster. El Salvador is the second most dangerous country in the world and there are few immigrants more deserving of this essential protection.

America has a proud legacy as a beacon of hope to the world, welcoming those who seek a better life. This decision by President Trump and Secretary Nielsen is a shameful and cynical move to punish these innocent families just to score political points with the extreme right wing Republican base. I am angry and dismayed at this cruel decision. It a deliberate and narrow interpretation of the law, which provides flexibility to weigh current realities and not just the effects of the 2001 earthquake in El Salvador.

I helped draft the TPS law and I know that it is more concerned with protection than with duration. We must never play politics with people’s lives. America is better than this and I will do all I can in the next 18 months to fight this terrible decision and work with my colleagues to pass bipartisan legislation to help regularize the residency status of long-term TPS holders.”