Statement by the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph:
The members of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, who embrace the Gospel charism of unifying love for the healing and transformation of the world, are deeply troubled by the decision of the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 57,000 Hondurans. Honduras is the seventh country whose citizens have been stripped of their right to protection by this administration.
Hondurans have been contributing members of our communities for 20 years. They have raised families, paid taxes, and contributed to the growth and development of this country even as U.S. foreign policy has added to the endemic poverty and persistent violence that continue to afflict Honduras.
The TPS program is designed to protect people from being returned to harm. That is precisely what Hondurans will face if they are forced to return to a country racked by violence, roiled by political repression, and plagued by continuing environmental challenges.
The cancellation of TPS for Hondurans brings to approximately 315,000 the number of our neighbors, friends, parishioners, co-workers, and colleagues whose gifts will be lost to us all. The short-sighted decision to rescind TPS protection for the citizens of Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Nepal, Liberia, Nicaragua, and Sudan places us all at risk. Ending their protection promises to tear families apart, fragment our communities, disrupt local economies, and places their well-being at risk.
The U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph will continue to promote unity forged through respect and appreciation of diversity in solidarity with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and all who heed the scriptural command to welcome the stranger and care for those in need.
Impelled by Love of God and neighbor without distinction, we urge the Trump administration to reconsider its decisions and we call on Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to develop legislative solutions to protect vulnerable people.
For more Federation Statements, visit: http://cssjfed.org
U.S. Federation Sisters of Saint Joseph | www.cssjfed.org The U.S. Federation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph is a dynamic union of all the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the United States who claim a common origin in the foundation at LePuy, France in 1650. Today there are approximately 4,203 vowed members as well as 3,032 associates and 25 agrégées in the United States. World-wide there are over 10,749 Sisters of Saint Joseph and 4,399 associates in over 50 countries.
May 11th, 2018