United for TPS Nepal (UTPSN) and AJSOCAL hosted a community briefing on our campaign to secure a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Nepal following catastrophic flooding on August 26th. The Nepali government estimates that over 84,000 individuals have been affected with 1,451 people having died as a result of the flooding and an additional 5,875 people missing or unaccounted for. In addition to human life, floods have destroyed entire communities with an estimated 7,570 homes affected.
Due to ongoing rains and climate change, Nepal continues to be devastated by landslides and flash floods. Between September 24th and 27th, 542 disaster incidents were reported, including 304 landslides and 87 floods. These ongoing natural disasters in Nepal make clear the need for TPS.
57 Members of Congress expressed as much to President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mullin in a bipartisan letter lead by Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Grace Meng (NY-06), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08). Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts publicly echoed these concerns, affirming bicameral support for TPS for Nepal.
However, despite support from Congress and over 200 organizational allies across the country, neither the President nor the Secretary have responded. In response, UTPSN and AJSOCAL held a Community Briefing on October 16, to share these updates with our community, allies, and Congressional champions. 156 devices logged in to join the conversation, to hear stories from impacted community members and why TPS matters to Nepali nationals living in the U.S. Representative Chu’s recorded remarks for the Briefing can be viewed below.
UTPSN and AJSOCAL will continue our conversations with the Nepali and U.S. governments and advocate for a new TPS designation for Nepal. We urge Nepal to request TPS, to hold the U.S. to its promise to support countries during times of crisis and natural disaster. Simultaneously, we urge the U.S. to listen to the people – TPS for Nepal is rapidly gaining popularity and urgently needed. We demand a new TPS designation be issued for Nepal.
