Letter to Jeh Johnson, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, John Kerry, Secretary of State - Temporary Protected Status for Nepal Natives

Letter

Dear Secretaries Johnson and Kerry,

We are all horrified by the massive earthquake that has left thousands dead and many more injured in Nepal and throughout the region. Nepali people living in the United States should not be forced to return in the midst of devastation, and we urge you to extend Temporary Protected Status to this community.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is designed to grant protection to foreign nationals living in the U.S. when extraordinary circumstances make it difficult for them to return to their homeland. Specifically, the statute says that TPS may be granted when there are "extraordinary and temporary conditions in the foreign state that prevent…nationals of the state from returning to the state in safety." We believe the widespread damage, uncertainty, and turmoil in the area meet these criteria, and that TPS would be of tremendous help in this situation to allow the Nepali government to focus its efforts on safety, recovery, and rebuilding.

According to media reports, almost the entire army and police has joined the rescue and recovery effort, highlighting that the country's focus is -- rightfully -- on protecting and securing those in the area at the time. In addition to the extensive damage and loss of life, there is a continuing danger to the area with aftershocks and shortages of water, food and electricity, as well as the danger of diseases beginning to spread. It clearly would not be safe or humane to expect Nepali nationals currently in the U.S. to return to their homeland at this time.

TPS has often been granted in similar circumstances after severe natural disasters abroad. Allowing Nepali nationals that are here in the U.S. to remain here temporarily is the safe, reasonable, and compassionate thing to do, and we hope you will act swiftly to provide this reassurance to the Nepali people in a time of great distress.

We thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and appreciate your prompt consideration of this request.


Sincerely,

Joseph Crowley
Grace Meng
Xavier Becerra
Earl Blumenauer
Madeleine Z. Bordallo
Matt Cartwright
Judy Chu
David N. Cicilline
Yvette D. Clarke
Danny K. Davis
Suzan K. DelBene
Mark DeSaulnier
Lloyd Doggett
Tulsi Gabbard
Al Green
Raúl M. Grijalva
Luis V. Gutiérrez
Michael M. Honda
Steve Israel
Sheila Jackson Lee
Daniel T. Kildee
Rick Larsen
Barbara Lee
Ted Lieu
Zoe Lofgren
Carolyn B. Maloney
Doris O. Matsui
Jim McDermott
James P. McGovern
Jerrold Nadler
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Jared Polis
Charles B. Rangel
Bobby L. Rush
Janice D. Schakowsky
Adam B. Schiff
Brad Sherman
Albio Sires
Louise McIntosh Slaughter
Adam Smith
Mark Takai
Paul Tonko
Maxine Waters
Bonnie Watson Coleman