Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) met with Nevada families who have been impacted by President Donald Trump’s recent decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 250,000 Salvadoran nationals. In many cases, Salvadorans who have received TPS have lived in the country for 20 or more years and have American citizen children. The President’s decision would tear these families apart and have a devastating effect on our communities and economy.
“Today’s meeting with Nevada families impacted by President Trump’s TPS decision is a reminder of the catastrophic human costs of his reckless, misinformed, and racist anti-immigrant agenda,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Salvadoran nationals who have received TPS have fled civil war and natural disasters and came to the country to rebuild their lives. They have started families, gone to school, and opened businesses. These families have contributed so much to our country and are stellar models of American values. This decision is a reminder that President Trump and his administration care little, if at all, about the wellbeing of hardworking families and are willing to tear them apart. This needs to stop. We need a permanent solution to protect TPS families, and the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act would do just that. I urge my colleagues to support this bill to prevent this assault on families in Nevada, and across our country.”
“Approximately 6,300 immigrants with TPS designations call Nevada home and have lived in the United States on average of 24 years. They pay taxes, millions of dollars into social security benefits, raise their children who are U.S. citizens, and contribute to our local and national economy,” said Geoconda Argüello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union – Nevada’s largest immigrant organization. “Terminating TPS for workers is inhumane and would criminalize thousands of current legal workers in major cities and industries overnight. We call on Republicans to enact permanent legislation and not separate and destroy families who have deep roots in the United States.”
BACKGROUND:
President Trump’s decision to end TPS for Salvadoran nationals will bring 5,700 Nevadans at risk of deportation. In Nevada alone, roughly 3,800 U.S.-born children have Salvadoran parents with TPS. Nevada faces the potential of losing $255.3 million in economic activity per year because of President Trump’s decision.
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