Several US congressional leaders have penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, urging President Trump to issue an immediate designation of temporary protected status (TPS) for Jamaica following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa.

The group of 44 congressional leaders is being led in this endeavour by New York Democratic US representative Yvette Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn.

She also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).

The letter highlights that Jamaica is currently confronting widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which has left countless residents without homes, electricity, clean water, or access to medical care. 

The letter states, “tens of thousands have been displaced, and recovery is expected to take months—if not years. Under these conditions, it would be unsafe and inhumane to require Jamaican nationals currently residing in the United States to return home. The United States has a longstanding and close relationship with Jamaica. Congress established TPS precisely for moments such as this—when natural disasters or humanitarian crises render a country temporarily uninhabitable.”

The congressional leaders are arguing that, “extending TPS to Jamaican nationals would reaffirm our nation’s commitments and ensure that individuals are not forced to return to life-threatening conditions,” noting that pursuant to Section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a country for TPS when extraordinary and temporary conditions – such as environmental disasters – prevent its nationals from safely returning home.

Jamaica eligible for TPS designation

“We believe the situation in Jamaica clearly meets this statutory standard…We, therefore, strongly urge you to immediately designate Jamaica for temporary protected status under the Immigration and Nationality Act; allow all eligible Jamaican nationals currently residing in the United States to remain here lawfully and continue contributing to our communities; and coordinate with federal, state, and international partners to support Jamaica’s recovery and strengthen disaster resilience across the Caribbean region,” the group added. 

The legislators further urged the administration to “stand firmly with Jamaica during this crisis, acknowledging that, “many of our constituents are deeply affected by this tragedy, and we respectfully urge you to grant TPS for Jamaica without delay”.

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organisation that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout the Big Apple, noted that Hurricane Melissa caused catastrophic destruction in Jamaica, leaving residents across the island reeling from its impact. 

NYIC president and CEO Murad Awawdeh told Caribbean Life that “deporting Jamaicans back to a country in the middle of a humanitarian crisis would be reckless and inhumane…”

“We urge the administration to immediately designate TPS for Jamaica, ensuring they have legal protections, stability, and dignity to continue to rebuild their lives without the fear of being ripped away from their loved ones,” he concluded.