[mukto-mona] US Congressman urges grant of Protected Status to Bangla

amar Motamoth <motamoth@yahoo.com> wrote: 

CONGRESSMAN CROWLEY URGES HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY CHERTOFF TO GRANT TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO BANGLADESHI NATIONALS IN THE UNITED STATES

 

Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens and the Bronx) called on the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Bangladeshi nationals who are currently residing in the U.S., but whose visas are on the cusp of expiring. 

 

"Bangladesh is continuing to struggle in the aftermath of major flooding and Cyclone Sidr.  Millions of its citizens are displaced internally and lack clean water and food," said Crowley. "The U.S. must show its support for Bangladesh by granting Temporary Protected Status to the Bangladeshis currently living here in the U.S.  This will allow those residing in our country to remain here until the government of Bangladesh is better suited to handle their return."

 

Under The Immigration and Nationality Act, the Homeland Security Secretary has the authority to grant TPS, which allows those temporarily in the U.S. to stay for an extended period of time if they are unable to safely return to their home country due to an ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. 

 

The text of the Congressman's letter to Secretary Michael Chertoff is below.

 

January 28, 2008

 

The Honorable Michael Chertoff

Secretary

Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

 

Dear Secretary Chertoff:

 

The current state of affairs in Bangladesh is of great concern to me and my constituency.  The country has been plagued by natural disasters, including flooding and a cyclone, Sidr. It is also being governed by a temporary, caretaker government, which is struggling to provide for its people during these difficult times.  In light of this situation, the Department of Homeland Security should grant Temporary Protected Status to Bangladeshi nationals currently living in the United States with visas set to expire.

 

As you know, the extensive flooding that occurred this past summer forced nearly one million people living in low-lying areas to be internally displaced.  Sidr, the cyclone, exacerbated the disaster – causing widespread disease and homelessness.  Unfortunately, relief efforts to help all those affected have not been effective.  

 

Circumstances in Bangladesh could be made worse if the thousands of Bangladeshi nationals living in the United States are sent home due to expiring visas.  However, the Department of Homeland Security has the ability to stop the influx of those returning to Bangladesh by invoking its authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant Temporary Protected Status to Bangladeshi nationals currently living in the United States with visas set to expire.

 

Bangladesh's ability to provide for its citizens has been radically diminished.  We cannot put Bangladesh or any of its people in further jeopardy by requiring those residing here in the U.S. to return at this time. I urge you to grant Temporary Protected Status for Bangladeshis currently residing in the United States and allow them to stay until Bangladesh is better suited to handle their return.  This is in the best interest of Bangladesh and its people.

 

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to your response.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Joseph Crowley

Member of Congress

---

__._,_.___

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona 
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/


*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/


Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___