Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke and advocacy groups on Tuesday wrote to the Biden Administration asking it to safeguard Black immigrant communities before the end of the term.
The call is in response to concerns emanating from president-elect Donald Trump's previous immigration policies and recent remarks about mass deportations, according to a press release.
Lawmakers and advocacy groups, including African Communities Together, Black Alliance for Just Immigration and the Nigerian Center, are calling for the extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain countries, clearing TPS processing backlogs, expediting work permits and granting Special Student Relief (SSR) to Nigerian F-1 students.
The group said Black immigrants who were detained for prolonged periods during Trump's previous term, faced abuse at disproportionate rates.
"With his pledge to conduct the largest mass deportation in history and enlist the military to carry out this plan, we are extremely concerned that people of African descent will be targeted at higher rates. These actions are imperative to protect innocent people and families from further disruptions to their lives," the group said.
Nils Kinuani, federal policy manager of African Communities Together, said Black immigrants faced "an increasingly xenophobic and racist immigration landscape."
Gbenga Ogunjimi, executive director of the Nigerian Center, emphasized the economic and humanitarian benefits of extending TPS. “Renewing TPS is advantageous for the United States and the individuals who hold this status. TPS holders contribute over $4 billion in taxes and are vital to our economy,” Ogunjimi said.
