Paul Gadzikowski
Friday February 8th, Missioning Prayer and Despedida (Send-Off)
This past Friday, over 100 leaders from OTOC and the TPS Alliance of Nebraska gathered to hold a Prayer Service that celebrated both culture and faith for the 9 members of the Omaha community who are representing Nebraska at the TPS Summit in Washington DC from February 10—February 13. The Opening prayer and focus statement were given bilingually by Pastor Juan Carlos Veloso, along with Fr. Chris Saenz, who gave the Blessing to the travelers.
The group traveling to Washington DC was made up of 6 TPS holders, 2 seniors in high school who are the US citizen children of TPS holders, and a Creighton University student. The group flew to Washington DC on Saturday and is currently participating in advocacy, leadership training, and the March for TPS Justice on Tuesday, Feb 12.
The evening’s sole focus was to inform members of the community about the Temporary Protected Status program and the effects the removal of such program will have on the country if TPS holders loose their right to work and maintain a safe and healthy life within the United States. Dreamers and TPS holders have an opportunity to be heard at the 2019 TPS Summit in Washington DC happening Feb 10-13. They will have the chance to build their strength and obtain the necessary skills to empower their communities during the many Leadership Workshops offered, and will have the freedom to inform members of Congress that TPS holders and Dreamers need Permanent Resident Status and a pathway toward citizenship.
The Send Off began with the opening prayer and was followed by participants who brought flowers to the alter that represented the good things immigrants and refugees bring to this country. All attendees were given a flower as they were greeted at the door and were told to hold those flowers in their hands as metaphoric representations of the talents and skills they each bring to this country and commujnity when moving to one’s new home. After the prayer each individual brought up their flower to the altar while the song ” Vengo de Todos Lados” by Alianza Nacional played in the background helping to set the warm welcoming mood.
The celebration continued with Live Mariachi Music, performed by Mariachi Patria Juvenil of Omaha, NE. During the social part of the event, the 9 individuals who are representing Omaha each sat at a table and spoke to visitors about the importance of fighting for Permanent Residency for TPS holders and were able to speak about their personal stories 1 on 1 with the community. The attendees enjoyed warm home made Champurrado(Salvadoran Hot Chocolate), authentic Salvadoran tamales, and sweet bread all the while conversing and building relationships with one another.
The TPS Alliance of Nebraska sent 7 members of their Committee to Washington DC to represent TPS holders in Nebraska, along with 2 Students from Omaha Bryan High School and Creighton University;
Mario Vasquez, Jose Joel Guardado Mejia, Salvador Vasquez Ruiz (Holy Name Church), Ismael Rivera (TPS Alliance), Jose M0lina, Nelson Rodriguez, Cindy Yoanna Vasquez (South High School), and Esmeralda Rodriguez (Bryan High School Valedictorian) and Claire Johnson (Creighton University).
The TPS Alliance of Nebraska is visiting the offices of Sen. Sasse, Sen. Fischer herself, and the office of Representative Bacon while in Washington DC this week.
Please call our Congressional representatives about our neighbors who have Temporary Protected Status.
Senators and representatives count the number of calls they receive about specific issues and are more likely to respond to issues for which they have received many calls.
To Senator Sasse and Congressman Bacon:
Sasse: (202) 224-4224 and (402) 550-8040 Bacon: (202) 225-4155 and (402)-938-0300
Talking points:
* Please be a leader for a legislative solution for TPS holders & all persons eligible for DACA with a pathway for citizenship
* The US must treat asylum seekers according to the UN Refugee Accord and US law
* Thank you for having your staff meet with the Nebraska TPS delegation when they are in Washington on Feb. 11 during the March for TPS Justice.
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To Senator Fischer: (202) 224-6551 and (402) 391-3411
Talking points:
* Please be a leader for a legislative solution for TPS holders & all persons eligible for DACA with a pathway for citizenship
* The US must treat asylum seekers according to the UN Refugee Accord and US law
* Thank you for agreeing to meet with the Nebraska TPS delegation during their trip to DC on February 12 during the March for TPS Justice.
Members of the TPS Alliance of Nebraska and OTOC Leaders met with Immigration Lawyer Gary Walters to learn more about how to adjust their immigration status if TPS is finally terminated
On Saturday February 2nd, the Nebraska TPS Alliance met with local community members to inform them about the various legal options that exist for holders of Temporary Protected Status. OTOC and IPL reached out to Immigration Lawyer Gary Walters (Immigrant Legal Center), who gladly offered his time to give members a workshop regarding the different ways that TPS holders can seek legal status for themselves if the TPS program is terminated by the Trump Administration in September, 2019.
About 35 TPS holders and family members from various local churches gathered to learn about of different ways they might qualify to remain in the United States if TPS is ended. These leaders want to remain in the counrty and city they have called home for nearly 20 years. They are very concerned about what will happen to their citizen children, their homes and belongings if the United States closes our doors to them. They have put down deep roots in Omaha, working in a wide variety of important jobs from health care to meat packing plants, from trucking companies and roofing companies to law offices. They own their own their homes and cars and simply want to be allowed to contributing to our city and country.
Lawyer Gary Walters explained a number of options which the TPS holders might have including: (1) Qualifying for Permanent Residency if they are married to a US Citizen or have a 21 year old child who is a citizen: (2) Seeking Political Asylum; (3) Seeking Cancellation of Deportation; (4) Seeking protection under certain special laws protecting the victims of domestic violence or human trafficking; or (5) The Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act or NACARA, and more.
The Workshop was organized by Bilingual Organizer, Antonio Barrales in Partnership with TPS Alliance Leader, Ismael Rivera. This event is part of IPL’s ongoing efforts to reach out to the TPS community in the Omaha Metro Area and to help show light to this very important issue.
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