Friday, CASA members along with other allies will meet with the staff of Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) to ask for a path to citizenship for TPS recipients. This is a letter that will be given to Sen. Casey on behalf of all TPSers in Pennsylvania.
March 16, 2018
The Honorable Robert Casey Jr.
393 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Casey,
In the wake of the Trump Administration’s decision to the end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Salavadoreans, I’m writing to formally request your assistance and support.
Earlier this year when TPS was dissolved, I was in shock.
My family and I have been in the United States since 1996. We are all TPS holders and have never been a burden for the US government. We have complied with all the TPS permit requirements.
Not only that, but we make significant contributions to the economy of York. We own our house and pay for childcare and health insurance out of our own pocket. I own two shops in York, one which sells Central American products and another that distributes clothing.
Research shows that if TPS holders from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti are taken out of the workforce, the country could lose up to $164 Billion in gross domestic product (GDP) over the next decade, leading to reductions in contributions for social security and Medicaid.
I feel sad, frustrated and really scared. My husband and I have worked hard for many years so our children and our community could succeed. Now, with the wave of the hand, our lives are shattered. We have no idea what is going to happen to us. I can´t even think what I am going to do with my grandson, a U.S.-born citizen who is under my custody.
I plead with you to support people like my family and me. Help us continue to contribute to this amazing country that may not be our native one but it is where we have built our lives and our family. We are asking to support a path to citizenship for TPS holders because after years of working for the betterment of this country, we deserve it.
Sincerely,
Elena Aguilar