This is in regards to the request for TPS for Guatemala, in light of the recent major earthquakes. This is the third request due to natural disasters in that area occurring in the past two years. Due to all the recent destruction, we have been overwhelmed with requests for help from family members living in Guatemala. The original request for Temporary Protected Status came in June of 2010 after a major storm, Agatha, hit the country. Our government said it was under active consideration and to this day no decision has been made. This is a very important issue for my family and millions of others. Granting TPS would allow us to help them in so many ways. We invoke your help in supporting this request that will not only help a struggling country but will also benefit the U.S. as well.
Response to Petition
What We Have to Say About Granting Temporary Protected Status for Guatemala
Thank you for signing the petition "Grant Temporary Protected Status to Guatemalans" on the We the People platform on WhiteHouse.gov.
While the Administration appreciates your desire to seek a Temporary Protected Status designation for Guatemala, we believe that pursuing commonsense immigration reform will provide more permanent solutions to the broken immigration system and is where we share the strongest common interest. President Obama has laid out clear principles that must be a part of commonsense immigration reform. We need to create a fair and effective immigration system that creates a path to earned citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the shadows, cracks down on employers who hire undocumented workers, continues to secure our borders, and streamlines our legal immigration system so everyone is playing by the same set of rules. By working together for broader immigration reform, we can fix our broken immigration system for generations to come, including for many Guatemalans. For more information on the Administration efforts to enact commonsense immigration reform including recent reports on the economic benefits of reform, visit obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/immigration.
Guatemalans affected by recent environmental events may be eligible for certain assistance options from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These measures may allow eligible individuals to quickly receive appropriate immigration assistance. Please refer to the "Special Situations" page of the humanitarian section on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/humanitarian for more information.
Again, thank you for making your voice heard. We greatly appreciate your interest and input on these important issues and hope that you continue to share your views with us.
Tell us what you think about this response and We the People.