Last week, Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) led a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to urge temporary protected status (TPS) for Ecuadorian immigrants currently residing in the United States.
Earlier this Congress, Rep. Espaillat introduced the Temporary Protected Status for Ecuador Act (H.R. 7371) , which Rep. García cosponsored, that would grant TPS to over 300,000 Ecuadorians in the U.S. who have fled the current mass outbreak of gang-related violence in Ecuador to seek safety for their families. During the press event, Espaillat and García were joined by members of MomsRising, Hispanic Federation, and others during the event.
“Ecuadorian families … in the United States have traveled thousands of miles…”
“Ecuadorian families currently here in the United States have traveled thousands of miles in order to flee the ongoing, unspeakable violence in their home nation, and have come here in search of work,” said Rep. Espaillat. “We must ensure TPS designations for these deserving Ecuadorians, in order to protect them from deportation and provide them with immediate work permits so that they can support their families and contribute to the U.S. economy. It is the right thing to do to meet this moment in history, and I commend my congressional colleagues and advocates for their unwavering support to address the urgent humanitarian situation unfolding in Ecuador by calling for this much-needed TPS designation.”
“Chicago is home to the 4th largest Ecuadorian community in the United States. Despite the well-documented insecurity that has driven these constituents to make the dangerous trip through the Darién Gap, many of them are in removal proceedings and face imminent deportation,” said Rep. García . “It is our responsibility to provide stability to Ecuadorians who are coming to our country seeking safety. That means expanding access to TPS for eligible Ecuadorians. People fleeing violence need protection from deportation.”
“I was 12 years old when I first came to the United States with my parents and two younger brothers, fleeing instability and violence in Ecuador that has only gotten worse,” said Angelica Idrovo Castillo, MomsRising member. “Now, 15 years later, I’m so grateful for the lives we’ve built here and I’m proud of all the ways we’ve made our communities stronger. But 15 years later, the threat of deportation is still a chilling reality for us. TPS for Ecuador would be transformative for my family. It would mean access to good jobs. Access to education. Access to health care. Most of all, TPS would give us peace of mind that we can continue contributing to our communities without worrying we will be ripped away from them at any moment. Right now, the situation in Ecuador is so precarious. Deportation could essentially be a death sentence.”
“Ecuadorians find themselves caught between the threats of violence…”
“Hispanic Federation urges the Biden Administration to designate Temporary Protected Status for Ecuador immediately. Ecuadorians find themselves caught between the threats of violence from criminal entities, natural disasters and economic instability coupled with political turmoil. Granting TPS for Ecuador is the immediate action needed for individuals who are in the country, yet have been stranded in legal limbo without an opportunity to work,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO Hispanic Federation .
Representative Espaillat
Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.
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