Still Free

Yeah, Mr. Smiley. Made it through the entire Trump presidency without being enslaved. Imagine that.

Monday, January 15, 2018

What Part of Temporary Do You Not Understand?

So one of NY Chanel 7's Sunday political shows discussed the ending of TPS status for El Salvadorians. This is not the link but it is the basis of the Sunday broadcast:
BRENTWOOD, Long Island (WABC) -- The Trump administration's decision to end special protections for about 200,0000 Salvadoran immigrants filled many Salvadoran families with dread Monday, raising the possibility that they will be forced to abandon their roots in the U.S. and return to a violent homeland they have not known for years, even decades.
So we can call Salvadore a hellhole rather than a shit hole? Besides, crime is not a natural disaster. It is a consequence of human activity. But this part about a "homeland they have not known for years" is of interest.
What should be an exciting time of life is now buried in a nightmare. His parents are from El Salvador. They have lived, worked, and paid taxes for the last 20 years with their temporary protected status. TPS protects them from deportation while allowing them to drive, and obtain a temporary social security card.
Why were this fellow's parents, and himself, in the country for 20 years on the basis of a temporary entrance? What part of temporary did they not understand? What part of temporary did the people running this system not understand. It was unfair to these Salvadorians to have been given the impression that this "temporary" status was anything but that. The only reason I can see for a 20 year "temporary status" would be for a nuclear meltdown on the level of Chernobyl. Even then, even though there is no returning to Chernobyl, the rest of the country is habitable. No, this TPS should have been able to be extended exactly 1 (one) time. Thats 4 years to work, save, wire transfer and plan for your return to your country. End of story. There should have been no way to take out loans, purchase property or in any way put down anything resembling roots anywhere.
But on Monday the Trump administration announced the end of TPS for Salvadoran immigrants, which means Rodman's parents could soon be deported and returned to their mother country, which is besieged by violence, high unemployment, and corruption.
Aside from describing some cities in America, how is that the problem of US Citizens? US Citizens had no hand in the violence. Nor did they create and maintain the corruption or lack of employment.
"My mom and dad, they consider themselves to be New Yorkers," said Rodman. "When they came to this country they were pursuing the American dream."
This statement again makes it clear that they were under the impression that they were in the US to stay. Whoever explained the TPS to them clearly gave them the impression that they had reached the "promised land" and that they were home free. What the Trump administration is doing is what should have been done in the beginning: Make it clear that residency is temporary.

To take them away from their homes, their families, their friends, it's immoral," said Rodman.
No, what is immoral is taking advantage of the generosity of US Citizens to provide shelter during a natural disaster and then refusing to leave.