Washington, DC – In a decisive move to protect Black immigrant communities, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) led a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday. The event brought together lawmakers and advocacy groups to urge the Biden Administration to take immediate action during the lame-duck session, as concerns mount over President-elect Trump’s proposed immigration policies.
The press conference followed a letter from Rep. Clarke and colleagues to the administration, outlining specific executive actions they deem necessary. These include extending and redesignating Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for currently designated countries, clearing the TPS processing backlog, finalizing a rule for auto-extensions of work permits, prioritizing work permit processing across all categories, and designating special student relief (SSR) for Nigerian F-1 students in the United States.
Rep. Clarke pointed to the Trump Administration’s previous policies, such as expanded migrant detention programs and the U.S.-Mexico border wall, as cause for alarm. She noted the record-high detention levels of migrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2019, with Black detainees facing disproportionate rates of abuse.
The lawmakers expressed deep concern over President-elect Trump’s pledge to conduct the largest mass deportation in history, potentially using military resources. They fear these actions may disproportionately target people of African descent.
Advocacy groups lent their voices to the cause. Nils Kinuani of African Communities Together warned of the dangerous crossroads facing Black immigrants, who are targeted by harmful rhetoric and policies while their needs and contributions are often overlooked. Ronald Claude from the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Gbenga Ogunjimi of the Nigerian Center, and Daniel Tse from Haitian Bridge Alliance also showed their support.
Gbenga Ogunjimi called for Nigeria to receive Special Student Relief (SSR) designation or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). He urged the Biden administration to extend these protections to Nigerian nationals and students in the U.S. before the end of its term.
Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick emphasized the economic contributions of TPS holders, who contribute over $4 billion in taxes. She warned that failing to renew TPS would create massive socio-economic disruption and force thousands to leave their families behind.
The letter to the administration garnered support from numerous representatives, including Amo, Bishop, Carson, Carter, Cleaver, Connolly, Davis, Escobar, Evans, García, Goldman, Grijalva, Jackson, Johnson, Kamlager-Dove, Lee, McIver, Meeks, Meng, Holmes Norton, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley, Quigley, Ramirez, Ruppersberger, Vargas, Veasey, Velázquez, Wasserman Schultz, Waters, Watson Coleman, Williams, and Wilson.
As the clock ticks down on the current administration, the call for action to protect Black immigrant communities grows louder. The coming weeks will reveal whether these urgent pleas will translate into concrete measures to safeguard vulnerable populations in an increasingly challenging immigration landscape.
