TPS for Guatemalans

The strong earthquake in Guatemala affected mainly the western region, where the majority of Guatemalans in the United States came from. Today it’s more important than ever that these Guatemalans can continue sending remittances to their relatives and avoid being deported to an area devastated by the earthquake.

Therefore, the U.S. should grant undocumented Guatemalans living in our country Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to prevent deportation. This status was also previously granted to Hondurans, Nicaraguans and Salvadorans when their countries experienced hardships due to national disasters.

According to the International Organization for Migration, there are 1.2 million Guatemalans in the U.S., and 60% of them are undocumented. These immigrants send more than $4 billion per year in remittances to almost 4.5 million Guatemalans.

The magnitude-7.2 earthquake impacted 1.2 million people, leaving more than 20,000 victims and almost 10,000 damaged homes.

The administration of President Otto Pérez, which already faced numerous challenges before the earthquake, asked the White House a few days ago to grant TPS to its fellow countrymen in the U.S. given this new crisis.

We think it’s reasonable to grant TPS to Guatemalans because of the current situation this Central American nation is undergoing. This will be a big help for Guatemala’s economy and stability.

If previously, the country was in no condition to welcome its deportees, now even less. Granting TPS should be seen as both a humanitarian act and an action that advances American interests for stability in the region.