WASHINGTON — Filipino American community leaders have urged their members across the United States to stage “picnic rallies” on July 4 to press the US government to grant Temporary Protected Status to some 200,000 Pinoys who have overextended their visas so they can assist victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
“A grant of full TPS is an urgent and appropriate humanitarian response to the catastrophic consequences of the strongest storm in history,” said Loida Nicolas Lewis, national chair of the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG).
“TPS status would allow Filipino nationals currently in the United States to help their families back home rebuild their lives. Thus, there is a compelling need to provide them with legal protection. It has been seven months since the Aquino government asked the Obama administration for TPS. We are calling on President Obama to please direct Homeland Security to grant TPS now,” she added.
July 4, America’s Independence Day, is also commemorated as Filipino-American Friendship Day.
TPS will give overstaying Filipinos the right to work and travel freely for a specified period so they can assist the Philippine typhoon victims financially and otherwise.
In Washington, community organizers plan to display a huge banner in front of the White House.
Filipino-American organizations in Austin, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco also plan to display TPS banners at July 4th parades in these cities.
The economic impact of the TPS designation is estimated to be $1.5 billion in added remittances to the Philippines from the TPS Filipino nationals in the US, said Ed Navarra, chairman of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations.