WASHINGTON, CMC – Several United States legislators have written to the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), Kristi Noem, urging President Donald Trump to issue immediate designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Jamaica following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa.
The 43 members of the US House of Representatives, including Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, said in their joint letter that Jamaica is currently confronting widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which battered the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country last Tuesday.
“The storm has left countless residents without homes, electricity, clean water, or access to medical care. Roads and vital infrastructure have been destroyed, communities are struggling to recover, and the Government of Jamaica faces immense challenges in restoring essential services,” they wrote in the letter.
They said tens of thousands have been displaced, and recovery is expected to take months, if not years.
“Under these conditions, it would be unsafe and inhumane to require Jamaican nationals currently residing in the United States to return home. The United States has a longstanding and close relationship with Jamaica. Congress established TPS precisely for moments such as this, when natural disasters or humanitarian crises render a country temporarily uninhabitable.
“Extending TPS to Jamaican nationals would reaffirm our nation’s commitments and ensure that individuals are not forced to return to life-threatening conditions,” said the letter, with the legislators stating that pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a country for TPS when extraordinary and temporary conditions, such as environmental disasters prevent its nationals from safely returning home.
“We believe the situation in Jamaica clearly meets this statutory standard. We, therefore, strongly urge you to immediately designate Jamaica for Temporary Protected Status under the Immigration and Nationality Act; allow all eligible Jamaican nationals currently residing in the United States to remain here lawfully and continue contributing to our communities; and coordinate with federal, state, and international partners to support Jamaica’s recovery and strengthen disaster resilience across the Caribbean region.”
The legislators further urged the Trump administration to “stand firmly with Jamaica during this crisis.
“Our nations are bound by shared history, culture, and family ties. Many of our constituents are deeply affected by this tragedy, and we respectfully urge you to grant TPS for Jamaica without delay.
“We look forward to your prompt action and remain committed to working with DHS to provide the protection and stability this moment demands,” they added.
Last week, Caribbean immigration advocates in New York also urged Trump to protect Jamaicans in New York by granting them TPS.
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, noted that Hurricane Melissa caused catastrophic destruction in Jamaica, leaving residents across the island reeling from its impact.
“Everything from homes to local businesses has been destroyed, widespread power outages have occurred, and families are struggling to recover,” NYIC President and CEO Murad Awawdeh told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
“Currently, Jamaica is not designated for TPS. Given the scale of this natural disaster and humanitarian crisis that is unfolding, the Trump administration must act with urgency to grant TPS to Jamaica, ensuring that all 230,000 Jamaicans in New York state can stay without the fear of being deported as the island faces a long road to recovery. ”
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