Title
Calling on the U.S Department of Homeland Security to designate Ecuador for Temporary Protected Status.
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WHEREAS, the Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a country for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately; and
WHEREAS, the Secretary may designate a country for TPS due to ongoing armed conflicts (such as civil war), environmental disasters (such as earthquakes or hurricanes) or epidemics, and other extraordinary and temporary conditions; and
WHEREAS, during a designated period, individuals who are TPS beneficiaries or who are found preliminarily eligible for TPS upon review of their cases, are not removable from the United States, can obtain an employment authorization document, and may be granted travel authorization; and
WHEREAS, Ecuadorians have endured recent displacement due to natural disasters, economic downturn, severe political unrest, and civil armed conflict; and
WHEREAS, Ecuador experienced a surge in violence following the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023; and
WHEREAS, nations currently with TPS status include: Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota has the 10th highest Ecuadorian population in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the number of asylum cases in Minnesota’s immigration court originating from Ecuador surged by 900% in the last five years; and
WHEREAS, the Ecuadorian community has contributed positively to the development of this city; and
WHEREAS, the Ecuadorian Community has a history of contributing to the economic vitality, and the social and cultural richness of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS the lack of employment authorization is a barrier to full participation in the cultural, social, and economic life of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS the City of Saint Paul benefits when everyone who lives in our city can fully participate in the cultural, social, and economic life of the city; and
WHEREAS, Ecuador continues to struggle with conditions that are not adequate for their nationals to return; and
WHEREAS, designating Ecuador for Temporary Protected Status would be a benefit to our city as Ecuadorians living in Saint Paul would have the opportunity to remain safely in the United States and obtain employment authorization which would then allow them to fully participate and contribute to the cultural, social, and economic life of the city; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul calls upon the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to designate Ecuador for Temporary Protected Status to provide temporary immigration relief to eligible Ecuadorian nationals.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul calls upon our U.S congressional delegation; Representative McCollum, Senator Smith and Senator Klobuchar to support the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ecuador Act of 2024.