Today In Black History: The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Policy
Many legal. Haitians were admitted to the U.S. under TPS
Issue #728 Today In Black History, Wednesday, September 18, 2024
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Last week, during his disastrous debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Donald Trump made thinly veiled racist comments about cities like Springfield, Ohio, and Aurora, Colorado, being “ruined” by Black immigrants. He chose those two cities with recent influxes of immigrants who were legally admitted to the United States under the “Temporary Protected Status” policy. Several thousand Somali immigrants have settled in Denver and its suburbs like Aurora, and several thousand Haitian immigrants have settled in Springfield, Ohio.
As it was trying to recover from its decline as an industrial city, Springfield invited the Haitians to live and work because of new manufacturing jobs brought by the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act. Except for the usual challenges of integrating new immigrants, the Haitians presented no problems to Springfield until Donald Trump and J.D. Vance spread vicious lies about them eating the pets of white residents.
Every group of immigrants to America since the 19th century has been located in various locations with other members from their countries to take advantage of building a supportive community in a foreign land. Even if the immigrants bring their cultural practices and do not speak English, they eventually assimilate, and their descendants are American-born citizens.
Every immigrant group, from the Irish to the Chinese, the Germans, the Italians, the Japanese, the Vietnamese, the Haitians, and others, was subjected to extreme racism and discrimination that they had to overcome over the years.
Temporary Protected Status, commonly called TPS, is a humanitarian provision granted by the U.S. government to nationals from countries experiencing conditions that temporarily prevent safe return, such as armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. First established by the U.S. Congress in the Immigration Act of 1990, TPS has offered a lifeline to countless individuals seeking safety and stability.
The story of TPS has had a profound impact on Black immigrants from nations like Haiti, Sudan, Somalia, and South Sudan. For these communities, TPS has been more than just a bureaucratic designation; it has been a beacon of hope and resilience.
Haiti, the first Black republic in the Western Hemisphere, was established in 1804. Over the decades, it has faced various challenges, including political instability, natural disasters, and economic hardships. The catastrophic earthquake in 2010 prompted the U.S. to designate Haiti for TPS, allowing thousands of Haitians to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation.
For these Haitian immigrants, TPS has provided physical safety and the opportunity to build lives, contribute to their communities, and support relatives back home through remittances. As of September 2024, many of these individuals have spent over a decade in the U.S., laying down roots and becoming integral parts of their communities.
Despite the benefits, TPS is inherently temporary, and the uncertainty of its renewal can cast a long shadow over the lives of its beneficiaries. The Trump administration's attempts to terminate several TPS designations threw many lives into turmoil, sparking legal battles and widespread fear within immigrant communities.
While more sympathetic to immigrant causes, the Biden administration has faced challenges in navigating a polarized political landscape. As of 2024, efforts to provide a more permanent solution for TPS holders—such as pathways to citizenship—remain a critical and contentious issue.
The Department of Homeland Security must regularly renew TPS status for groups and individuals from designated countries. On June 28, 2024, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS for 18 months, from Aug. 4, 2024, through Feb. 3, 2026.
Today In Black History
In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Missouri Compromise, requiring that escaped enslaved people be returned to their owners.
In 1899, musician Scott Joplin was granted a copyright by the U.S. Copyright Office for “Maple Leaf Rag,” the most famous ragtime composition.
In 1919, Fritz Pollard became the first Black to play professional football for a major team, the Akron Indians. He was also the first Black to play in the Rose Bowl.
In 1895, educator businessman Booker T. Washington addressed the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition, which became known as the “Atlanta Compromise Speech.”
In 1948, the United Nations Security Council confirmed Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, diplomat, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, as the acting UN mediator in Palestine.
In 1962, Rwanda, Burundi, Jamaica, and Trinidad were admitted to the United Nations.
In 1980, Cuban Cosmonaut Arnold Tamayo became the first Black sent on a mission in space.
In 2023, fashion journalist Chioma Nnadi was named the new head of British Vogue, becoming the first Black woman to head a major fashion magazine.
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