Meet Leo, a 15-year-old from Miami who dreams of becoming a doctor, and his 12-year-old sister, Sofia, who hopes to become a marine biologist. Leo enjoys playing basketball, while Sofia loves painting. Their mother, Elena, is their rock, always ready to lend a hand with any challenges they face. Leo shares that they often share jokes to brighten each other’s day.
In Brooklyn, there’s 11-year-old Aisha, who aspires to help feed those in need. Her older sister, Layla, excels in math and has a heart for helping others. Together with their 10-year-old brother, Amir, they describe their mom as hilarious and selfless. Amir, when asked about his ideal superpower, wishes he could “make wishes come true,” specifically hoping for a green card for their mother. The reality for these children is stark: their parents live in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which means they lack green cards and face possible deportation.
“TPS means my mom can stay safe here,” Sofia explains about her mother, Elena, who immigrated from Honduras. “If she had to go back, I’d be so worried about her safety, and it would be tough without her support.” Aisha adds, “TPS lets my mom live like a regular citizen; she can work and pay taxes.” Layla fears for their mother’s potential return to Sudan, while Amir struggles to articulate the fear that grips his heart at the thought of losing her, simply stating, “I don’t want to answer that.” He eventually confesses that not seeing his mom every day would be heartbreaking.
What is Temporary Protected Status?
According to Families Belong Together, TPS is a legal immigration status designed to protect individuals who cannot safely return to their home countries due to dangerous conditions. Unlike refugee status, which is granted to those fleeing persecution outside the U.S., TPS provides temporary relief but lacks a clear path to permanent residency or citizenship. This needs to change.
TPS has been a lifeline for countless families in the U.S., allowing them to establish roots, contribute to the economy, and build lives in their communities. However, without legislative action to secure their status, families like Leo and Sofia’s, and Aisha, Layla, and Amir’s, risk being torn apart as their parents confront the threat of deportation.
Imagine fleeing a war-torn country or a place ravaged by disease. Imagine doing everything to provide for your children—finding work, obeying the law, and giving back to your community. And then picture being forced to leave, stripped of the protections you relied on, unable to see your children grow, support them in their endeavors, or comfort them in tough times.
“Ending TPS is another cruel act by this Administration that harms families,” says Anna Martinez, Director of Families Belong Together. “After the family separations we’ve seen, it’s appalling that those we vowed to protect might be ripped away from their loved ones. Congress must act to make these protections permanent and grant TPS holders a path to citizenship.”
These families mirror our own. They are the hardworking individuals who contribute to our neighborhoods, with children who aspire to become doctors, teachers, and leaders. They are integral to our economy, and their deportation would not only tear families apart but also harm the economic fabric of our nation. Research shows that laying off TPS workers could lead to significant losses in GDP and tax revenues.
Belinda, a TPS resident, shares, “We are integral to this economy; we’re farmers, workers, and business owners.” She bravely speaks up, saying, “Many view us as criminals, but that’s far from the truth. I don’t always feel safe discussing my TPS status, but I need to advocate for my family and others in similar situations.”
Even if you don’t personally know a family affected by TPS (chances are, you do), the implications of these policies affect all of us. Actions over recent years have made it increasingly common to see immigrant families torn apart. So what can we do?
Support petitions urging Congress to pass legislation that secures permanent residency for hardworking immigrants like Belinda. Write to legislators who endorse the Dream Act of 2019 and the Secure Act, both of which offer protections and pathways to citizenship. Join local organizations that support families at risk. Check out Families Belong Together for ways to get involved, and most importantly, use your vote to back representatives who champion these essential changes.
As a parent, the thought of my children facing life without me is terrifying. Let’s work together to ensure that families like Belinda’s don’t have to endure this devastating reality. “If I were forced to leave, I wouldn’t know what would happen to my children,” Belinda reflects.
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