Minneapolis, MN — City councils throughout Minnesota have taken a significant step in advocating for Ecuadorian nationals residing in the United States with the passage of resolutions in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Columbia Heights urging Federal officials to designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ecuador. The passage of these resolutions is thanks to the advocacy of members of the TPS Collective of COPAL, the leadership of city council members, and other dedicated individuals and organizations.
Minneapolis Council Member Jason Chávez, Columbia Heights Council Member Rachel James, and Abdihamid Badri, representing St. Paul Council Member HwaJeong Kim’s office, joined forces with members of the community and representatives from COPAL at a joint press conference today to emphasize the significance of this policy resolution.
Speaking at the event, Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chávez stated, “Many immigrants from Ecuador are coming to Minneapolis, to Minnesota…and we deserve a government that’s going to protect them and help them find job opportunities. I’m very excited that the Minneapolis City Council stood strong in support of our Ecuadorian community, but also know that this fight is not over, and we need to do more than just this resolution as we help our immigrant community in the United States.”
“Many risk their lives crossing borders and facing the possibility of being detained and deported at any time. Once in the United States, uncertainty continues for those who are in the irregular immigration status. They live in constant fear of deportation, hindering their ability to build a stable life and contribute fully to American society,” share Grace Puchaicela, a member of COPAL’s TPS Collective. “That is why TPS represents a humanitarian and practical solution for Ecuadorian migrants in the United States. Not only will it allow our compatriots to work, but it also provides security and stability to those who have fled violence and poverty in Ecuador.”
“Migration often times is not an option, but many people are forced to do it. And what we do here is basically welcome those families, support them to get the skills that they need to be able to thrive,” said Francisco Segovia. “And by thriving, they also are contributing greatly to the economy of the state, in this particular case, to our cities that have embraced them with these resolutions.”
The resolution calls upon the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to designate Ecuador for Temporary Protected Status, providing temporary immigration relief to Ecuadorian nationals currently residing in the United States.
COPAL Minnesota is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization leading social impact initiatives that drive political, social, and economic changes to improve the lives of Latine families in Minnesota. For more information, please visit www.copalmn.org.
