Commit to voting this November and help protect TPS recipients like Alex
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Alex was visiting Miami for New Year’s when her home country of Haiti was devastated by a catastrophic earthquake in January 2010, just one day before she was supposed to return. “It’s one of the worst feelings,” she says in a video from The Love VCommit to voting this November and help protect TPS recipients like Alex
Alex was visiting Miami for New Year’s when her home country of Haiti was devastated by a catastrophic earthquake in January 2010, just one day before she was supposed to return. “It’s one of the worst feelings,” she says in a video from The Love Vote campaign, “knowing that you’re not with your family in a time of tragedy like that.” The 7.0 earthquake killed an estimated 220,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. But Alex also considers herself “very lucky.” She was able to gain Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows recipients to live and work here legally when natural disasters or other extraordinary circumstances make it too dangerous for them to return to their home countries. Here, Alex “built a new life,” working, building relationships, and pursuing her “greatest passion,” dancing. “Miami is home to me now,” she says. But, after nearly a decade here, her future is again at stake, following the Trump administration rescinding TPS for hundreds of thousands of recipients like Alex. Officials knew, particularly in Haiti’s case, that ongoing conditions merited the continuation of these protections, but ended them anyway. “It was a heartbreak with that final news,” she said, “like, ‘get your papers ready, you’re going back.’” The lives of TPS recipients are in limbo. While a judge put a temporary hold on the administration’s move, what would bring the most stability to settled immigrants who have homes and lives and families here is permanent legislation—and we need a Democratic Congress that will do that. To win that, Alex needs us to vote on her behalf. “I don’t want to be anywhere,” she said. “I want to be here … every vote counts. If you’re able to do it, you should do it.” Watch Alex’s video below, THEN COMMIT TO VOTING for young Americans-in-waiting like her. Just click here, enter your zip code, choose the event that works best for you, and RSVP to attend. Read more