NEWS BRIEF: Central American immigrants protest outside of Georgia Capitol, call for protections

“Ganaremos esta lucha,” or “We will win this fight” in English, was the chant shouted by a group of around 30 immigrants who protested Thursday outside of the Georgia state capitol. Their cause? Widening the relief of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program granting immigrants refuge in the United States whose home countries have been affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other conditions that make it unsafe to stay. Those who are allowed to come to the US under the program can be granted work permits and protection from deportation.

The activists were fighting to add Guatemala to the list of countries whose citizens can apply for TPS. Recent Biden administration additions to the list include Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Protesters also called for changes to be made to the TPS designations for El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Stephanie Contreras, immigration manager for advocacy group CASA and attendee on Thursday, said, “These impacted immigrants have fled their countries because of political and climate crises and deserve to be welcomed here with open arms and without having to fear the threat of deportation…We need TPS and we demand it now.” ajc.com