Take Action to #SaveTPS

On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans in the United States. This decision follows the recent TPS terminations for Sudan, Nicaragua, and Haiti, and is yet another attack on immigrant communities. TPS is a program designed to protect people from being returned to harm - precisely the conditions El Salvador faces today, including gang conscription, sexual violence, and human trafficking. As a nation, we promised to protect nearly 200,000 Salvadoran neighbors by allowing them to remain in the United States.

Join us in urging the administration to restore El Salvador's TPS designation, and calling on Congress to pass a permanent legislative solution for all TPS holders. Click here for our Interfaith Toolkit: Top 5 Ways to Take Action in the New Year.

Here are the top 5 ways you can help! 

(1) Call Your Members of  Congress at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to do everything in their power to see the TPS designation for El Salvador be re-instated, and to pass a permanent legislative solution for TPS holders. You will receive a phone call and be patched through to your 2 Senators and 1 Representative.

Here's an example of what you might say: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], I support Temporary Protected Status for my Salvadoran neighbors, and I oppose the administration's recent decision to terminate it. I urge you to do everything in your power to see that the administration reinstates TPS for El Salvador for another 18 months, and to issue statements and make floor remarks supporting Salvadoran TPS holders. I call on you to demonstrate bold leadership and support a permanent, legislative solution that protects all TPS holders from being separated from their families. My community welcomes immigrants, and I urge you to reflect the best of our American values of compassion and welcome.”

(2) Amplify on Social Media and Join the Prayer Chain: Record a video or take a picture of yourself holding a printed, filled out #Faith4TPS sign. Upload your video to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the hashtag #Faith4TPS and tag the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (@interfaithimm). Don't forget to tweet at your Members of Congress and @realDonaldTrump.

Here is a sample tweet you can send: "@Legislator I urge you to support TPS for El Salvador, and to find a permanent legislative solution for all TPS holders #Faith4TPS". 

Here is a sample facebook post: "I am a constituent from [your town/district] and I stand in solidarity with my Salvadoran TPS holder neighbors, and urge congress and the administration to restore the TPS designation for El Salvador. My community welcomes and values immigrants, and we want a permanent legislative solution that protects all TPS holders to be passed". 

Click here for more sample social media posts and here for graphics.

(3) Organize Local Events: Hold vigils, rallies and other events within your community to show your support for TPS holders. Guidance on how to organize events and to maximize impact is available here.

(4) Write for Media: Elevate the public call by publishing a letter to the editor denouncing the termination of El Salvador's TPS designation, and calling on Congress to pass a permanent solution for TPS holders. Click here for sample op-eds, LTEs, and other resources on how to pitch and place media pieces.

(5) Write & share press releases condemning the decision to terminate TPS for El Salvador. For a template press release, please click here. For more information on our faithful call to stand with TPS holders, please visit: interfaithimmigration.org/TPS.

For more information to assist TPS holders in understanding DHS decisions on TPS, including terminations and indecisions, please visit: https://cliniclegal.org/resources/making-sense-administrations-decisions-temporary-protected-status-quick-guide-temporary

Please spread the word, and thank you for all your work and support!