Speech #1100060477

Chairman. I rise to oppose this amendment and in the strongest possible terms. The amendment would prohibit funds made available in the Act from being used to extend temporary protected status for countries covered under that program. Temporary protected status is a special immigration benefit for citizens of countries with severe hardships: civil wars. massive natural disasters. humanitarian crises. some of those troubled places in the world where people are fleeing absolutely horrendous conditions. This program offers the citizens of those countries temporary sanctuary in our country until their countries troubles are resolved. In total. 4.198 people currently in the U.S. could be deported if their temporary protected status were not extended. These individuals would be sent back to countries with extreme conditions. places like Burundi. Somalia. the Sudan. Of course. we hope that these troubles will end and that these people could eventually return to their home countries. This is temporary status. but the notion that we would defund this program or refuse to extend it where its called for. This amendment would also be detrimental to the effective administration and enforcement of immigration laws. It would create confusion about the degree to which the U.S. government can be trusted to maintain its commitment to those for whom it offers imimigration benefits. So I urge a "no" vote on this amendment.