Washington, DC – Yesterday, 109 organizations, including multiple Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) members, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging him to review country conditions and designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Special Student Relief (SSR) for Mali. Following the lead of African immigrant and Black-led community organizations, the signatories wrote that ongoing armed conflict, human rights abuses, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians have made the safe return of Malians impossible.
Advocates are demanding the same for Mali’s western neighbor, Mauritania. Last month, 87 organizations issued a letter urging the Biden administration to grant an 18-month designation of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) or TPS for Mauritania. If returned, Mauritanians would suffer many of the same human rights abuses threatening neighboring Malians.
The demand to the administration remains the same: don’t deport Black migrants back to harm.
Yesterday’s letter states:
“Mali has been experiencing conflict, political and economic instability, unrest and a security crisis since the military coup in 2012… Widespread human rights violations and abuses against civilians, including war crimes, have been attributed to armed groups, ethnic militias, government security forces, and Russian mercenaries… The country is experiencing extreme poverty, food insecurity, with limited access to safe drinking water, healthcare and other necessary resources. Environmental challenges due to climate change have impacted the sustainable use of natural resources, resulting in desertification, mining, loss of biodiversity and water pollution. In 2022, of the 12.9 million people affected by the crisis, 6.3 million need humanitarian assistance, with over 70% of the displaced population relying on humanitarian aid in the absence of government resources.
There is an unambiguous humanitarian crisis in Mali…
We strongly urge the Secretary and his counterparts in the administration to take necessary measures to protect Malian nationals in the United States and provide an initial 18-month designation of TPS for Mali. In addition, we request that the designation is accompanied with SSR benefits, a Timely Federal Register Notice (FRN), a 180-day registration period and a culturally relevant outreach campaign to the impacted community.
It is essential that equity be front and center in the review of a designation decision of TPS Mali. All nationals of countries whose conditions meet the requirements of a designation, including Black- and Brown-majority countries in the Global South, should be provided the protection they need in the form of TPS. Designating TPS and providing SSR benefits for Malian nationals would also advance the administration’s goal of addressing disparities in humanitarian treatment toward Black and Brown majority countries in the Global South. The recent designation for Cameroon took years of advocacy led by affected community members, while review and designation decisions for Ukraine took just six days. Others, like Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, and Ethiopia, are still awaiting review and decisions. The Biden administration must prioritize equity in the consideration of TPS for Mali and all countries whose conditions meet TPS requirements, regardless of their racial makeup.”
Read the complete letter and list of signatories here.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm
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