Oscar Rodríguez remembers when he arrived in the United States 24 years ago due to the bad economic situation that he lived in Honduras, today he is a cargo truck driver.
“He was quite young, he had a son, he was married, he had gone through agricultural production and the market was quite low,” said Rodríguez.
In 1998 Rodríguez benefited from the TPS program for migrants from Honduras, which occurred due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch.
“Honduras lost more than 1,500 people who died in the hurricane, so we entered the TPS,” Rodríguez added.
Like him, about 320 thousand people in the country are under this program that gives work permits and temporary status to migrants from different countries in need. Benefits that were in jeopardy during the Trump administration.
Since then, the TPS National Alliance was created, an organization with 60 committees around the country to fight for the rights of the beneficiaries of this program.
“It is an alliance made up of Tepesians to fight for a permanent residence,” explained Rodríguez.
Newly formed the committee in New York and still without an office, Oscar coordinates the 25 members.
Their meetings are through video calls. Last Saturday they toured part of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.
Rodriguez.
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“We have been last week in a marathon task, knocking on doors to find the Tepesianos of New York City to be able to get together, to be able to be stronger,” said Rodríguez.
And it is that on September 20 the members of this alliance will march to Washington DC to pressure Congress and President Biden to approve the proposal that would open a path to residency and eventual citizenship for TPS beneficiaries.
“It is the moment when Tepesian families can sleep in peace, they can be calm,” Rodríguez concluded.
To join or learn more about this organization call 347-510-9602.
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