For Immediate Release: April 12, 2021

Over 300 immigrants march from USCIS to Union Station to send a “welcome back” message to Congress to get to work on a pathway to citizenship

WASHINGTON, DC — As Congress returns from recess, individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) left in the lurch welcome them back from their home districts with a major rally. Immigrant activist groups will raise alarms that the hundreds of thousands of families of TPS holders face a ticking clock that the Biden administration can stall until Congress resolves this permanently with the SECURE Act.

At USCIS headquarters, over 300 TPS holders, activists, and allies come together for a press conference on TPS for countries in Central America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa. Speakers will share personal stories and share the realities of the conditions in the countries that need TPS designation or redesignation. Participants will then march from USCIS to Columbus Circle in front of Union Station to demand Congress pass permanent protections for TPS holders.

Only Congress can alleviate the artificial urgency created with the TPS program. Until then, activists look to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to immediately certify or recertify the following countries for TPS: Cameroon, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Mauritania, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, The Bahamas, and Yemen.

WHAT: Press conference, march, and rally

View the event on Facebook at: https://fb.me/e/251CahbIY

WHEN: April 14, 2021 — 11:30 AM *rain or shine*

11:30 AM Press Conference
12:15 AM March from USCIS to Union Station
12:30 PM Rally at Columbus Circle, Union Station facing the Capitol to Welcome Back Congress

WHERE: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Headquarters (USCIS) at 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20529. Livestream: https://www.facebook.com/CASAforAll/videos/756203488371811/

WHO: Adhikaar, African Communities Together, CASA, FIRM, Haitian Bridge Alliance, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), LIUNA, NAKASEC, National TPS Alliance, SEIU, 32BJ SEIU, UndocuBlack Network, and others.

RSVP: For more information on the actions, please contact Jenna DeFosse

VISUALS: Signs with each country name and “Justice for Immigrants,” banners that say “Welcome Back Congress,” and “Residency Now,” homemade signs, signs that spell out “essential workers,” drums, chants, interviews with TPS holders available.

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With over 110,000 members across the states of Maryland, Virginia, and South Central Pennsylvania, CASA is the largest member-based Latino and immigrant organization in the mid-Atlantic region. Visit us at www.wearecasa.org and follow us on Twitter at @CASAforall