Last February 3, Ms. Imelda Nicolas, chairperson of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) emailed the following updates from Mr. Greg Mariano Jr who wrote that although the February 1 deadline expired without the required 100.000 signatures for Temporary Protected Status for our Filipino migrants in America, another campaign for signatures, with a goal of 4,000, has been launched by the National Domestic Workers and MoveOn.org Civic Action. There were 3,038 signatures as of 1:43pm, Philippine time, Wednesday, February 5. About 962 signatures are needed to meet the required 4000 mark!
Again, may we encourage you and your friends, families, office mates and others to help sign this petition for TPS, at your soonest time possible please which is posted at http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/relief-2-recovery-temporary?source=c.url&r_by=9605082
Why this petition for TPS? How can the TPS help our Filipinos in the US and our disaster survivors?
When you go to the website mentioned earlier related to the signature campaign for TPS, you will read the following:
"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."
The DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) acted quickly to designate Haiti and El Salvador for TPS after massive earthquakes. That response can and should be repeated for the Philippines."
Mr. Greg Mariano Jr. also shared a news article that appeared in the following site: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/346755/pinoyabroad/news/fil-am-leaders-meet-us-execs-on-temporary-protected-status-for-phl-
This GMA International news article posted last February 3 reported that "Fil-Am leaders from the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), NAFFAA, FALDEF, US Pinoys for Good Governance, US Medicare Philippines, PNA and other groups presented arguments to US Department of State officials on the objective and subjective conditions that justify the granting of a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Philippines."
According to the news, if the TPS will be granted to the Philippines, thousands of Filipinos in America who are undocumented and have lost their immigration status will obtain work authorization and the right to travel. The TPS then will allow the Filipinos in the US to continue to help "thereby ensuring a lifeline of support for their families, relatives and "kababayans" in the provision of material and financial donations and remittances."
For everyone's information, the news article explained that "a TPS recommendation for the Philippines by the US Department of State carries heavy weight as the United States Department of Homeland Security by statute (no need for congressional legislation) makes the final decision and official declaration of TPS designation."
The much-needed 4000 signatures are expected to support earlier requests made by President Noynoy Aquino and other Fil-Am groups such as the Migrant Commission (MHC), US Pinoys for Good Governance, US Medicare Philippines, and more.
"MHC and other Fil-Am groups are very hopeful that TPS designation for the Philippines will be announced soon after recommendations from different agencies of the US government, especially the US Department of State, have been reviewed," according to the GMA International News.
Please help convince the US to grant TPS to our Filipinos in the US. Please remember to sign up for the TPS petition and be counted among the 4000 who will help persuade the US Government to grant TPS to our kababayans in the US!
Thank you to all supporters of the TPS for our Filipinos in the US and for our disaster survivors!
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Email: cherryb_thefreeman@yahoo.com.