Suozzi Urges DHS to Reverse Harmful Decision Ending Legal Status for Thousands of Hondurans TPS Holders

Hicksville, NY – Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY) held a press conference today with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients to call on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reverse its harmful decision to terminate TPS protections for thousands of Hondurans and others who have lived, worked, paid taxes and contributed to the fabric of American society for more than two decades. To demonstrate the harmful impacts of this decision by the DHS, two Honduran TPS recipients and business owners who live in Suozzi's Congressional district shared that they were scared to attend the press conference and for the future of their children, families, and businesses. There are over 1,095,115 TPS recipients in the United States and 52,585 Honduran TPS recipients, with 8,000 living in New York.

"I want to start by applauding President Trump for securing the border and for his efforts to deport criminals. I agree with those policies. But, now I believe it has gone too far," said Rep. Suozzi. "I think we need to work together to find some form of compromise to move forward because what is happening now is bad for business, bad for law enforcement, and it is actually very inhumane and unfair to people. I believe it is un-American."

Suozzi continued, "We have people who are Temporary Protected Status recipients who came to America more than twenty-five years ago, who have been living legally here in the United States of America. They pay taxes, they are raising their families here, they work six days a week, and they go to church on Sundays," said Rep. Suozzi. "And right now, they are terrified. There are about 50,000 Hondurans in the United States of America who have Temporary Protected Status, many who live right here in my District, on Long Island and throughout New York. The Administration has announced that the Hondurans will lose their temporary protected status on September 8th, and it's just not fair. They were invited here after devastating disasters. And now, to send them back to countries they haven't seen in decades—often to violence and instability—is simply wrong."

Suozzi emphasized that it was not easy to find participants willing to join the presser because people are afraid. Two people who will be affected by this decision phoned into the press conference to speak about their fears, asking for anonymity for protection.

The first gentleman, using the alias William, owns two businesses in the 3rd District. He has been here legally under TPS for over 25 years. Now, he is at risk of losing his Temporary Protected Status.

"I came to the United States in the late 1990s. I have TPS status. I own two businesses and I employ 20 people. I have two kids, a 20-year-old and a 15-year-old. They are U.S. citizens," said William. 

When asked how he feels about losing his status, William said, "It's a terrifying thing for us. We don't know what is going to happen to our family, the businesses we own, or the community we serve. It's not only going to affect my family, but it's going to affect the families of my employees and the communities we serve. If we were to be removed from this country, the businesses we run would close."

Suozzi called another individual under the alias Alfredo. Alfredo owns a restaurant in the 3rd District. 

"I came to the United States more than 28 years ago. I own a restaurant and employ 10 people," said Alfredo. "I have been living in this country and doing the right things, paying my taxes, being a good neighbor, and I don't have a criminal record. I have a 17-year-old son who is soon to start college. To be honest, I do not know what to do. I own a business. I have workers. I have a son who has dreams. He wants to become a businessman, and I am not going to be here to see that happen."

The press conference, held at the 1199 SEIU headquarters in Hicksville, highlighted the lives of hardworking TPS holders who have built families, paid taxes, and served their communities since they were first granted legal protections following natural disasters and armed conflict in their countries of origin. The DHS decision to rescind their status by September 8th threatens to separate families and uproot New Yorkers who have been contributing to our economy and community for over 25 years.

Suozzi was joined by leaders from SEIU, 32BJ, the New York Immigration Coalition, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON). Together, they urged DHS to reinstate TPS protections and give Congress the opportunity to enact a long-overdue solution for long-term immigrants living in legal limbo.

​​"We're here because we are standing in solidarity with the TPS holders across the country who are having their TPS status arbitrarily cancelled by the Department of Homeland Security. TPS is a promise that the United States made," said Nadia Marin Molina, the Co-Executive Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON). "When people from other countries came here and found out they couldn't go home because of a hurricane or war, they were told you would be safe here as long as you applied, you can work and live here. TPS holders have done this for decades. The Trump Administration is breaking this promise for Honduras and many more countries."

"Since 1998, I have lived legally in this country. I have worked, paid taxes, and contributed actively to this society that I now consider my home. The Trump Administration's decision to terminate TPS for Honduran immigrants has left me devastated. It's not easy to pack up decades of life, memories, and effort, much less imagine myself returning to a country that is not prepared to receive 50,000 of my compatriots. We will continue fighting to defend TPS for our families, our communities, and our future – and we need a permanent solution that recognizes our contributions and grants us security. We are not asking for handouts – we are asking for justice and dignity," said Perla Canales, 32BJ SEIU member and TPS holder from Honduras. 

Hondurans were first granted TPS in 1999 after Hurricane Mitch. Many other groups received the same status due to wars or catastrophic conditions in their countries. Ending these protections now would force parents to leave their children, destabilize long-term employers, and harm local economies.

"My name is Ramon Canales, and I came to Long Island from Honduras in 1995. I love my home country, and I also love the United States. For many years, I have been working in construction and pizza making," said Canales. "I am a Honduran, but I am also a Long Islander. What is happening to TPS holders is an injustice. My brothers and I came here to find a better future. We have given back to our country and made it stronger. Do not destroy our future by ending our American dream."

"My name is Gladys Morales. I am a proud Salvadoran and resident of Hempstead, Long Island, where I have lived for 35 years. I am also part of the NY and Long Island Committee of the National TPS Alliance. The alliance is made up of TPS holders organized to save TPS. It includes people from all countries that have been protected, such as Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Venezuela, Haiti, and more," said Morales. "I have worked many jobs as a cleaner and childcare worker. I care for seniors as an aide. I arrived here with almost nothing, but I have built my life here. I have dedicated more than three decades to working hard and contributing to my community. I have been paying taxes for more than 25 years. This country made a promise to TPS holders, and we are demanding they keep it."

Arlene Gannon, from the Community Care and Home Health Services, emphasized that 40% of her workforce is covered by TPS.

"I have worked in the homecare industry for many years. The homecare industry takes care of people with physical and mental disabilities…We are one of the largest homecare agencies here on Long Island, and 40% of our workforce is covered under Temporary Protected Status," said Gannon. "Once your TPS is revoked, you are no longer eligible to work, so unless you apply for citizenship, you can be deported. So, not only will this economically devastate Long Island and Queens, but this is something that will transpire across the country."

When asked by Congressman Suozzi how many employees her company has, she responded, saying they have 2,000 employees. Eight hundred of them are TPS recipients.

Congressman Suozzi then invited Vlad Tlali from the New York Immigration Coalition to speak.

"TPS is a lifesaving immigrant status that has been a central component of our immigration policy since 1999. Today, there are over 1,000,000 people in the country who depend on TPS to remain here," said Tlali. "In New York, we are talking about 86,000 people, many of them are immigrants. Here on Long Island, there are a lot of first care workers, healthcare workers, and people who are sustaining the state since the pandemic. TPS is an issue of fairness and justice."

"The real solution to this issue is actually to enact legislation. The way to do that is to convince elected officials that this can be done in a responsible way," said Rep. Suozzi. "We can secure the border, we can fix the asylum system, and we can treat people like human beings. There is a negotiation to be had to get this done that can satisfy the different political concerns of different parties, but can also live up to the ideals we have."

Suozzi continues to work tirelessly in Washington, D.C. to secure a real, lasting, bipartisan immigration reform package.

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