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Caravan participants are prepared for the justice of the TPS
A caravan with TPSians will depart from Los Angeles this Friday
Caravan participants are prepared for the justice of the TPS Map shows the route that the first group of the caravan will make in favor of the TPS. (Supplied)
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BY:
JACQUELINE GARCÍA
AUGUST 14, 2018
It has been more than 22 years since Edwin Murillo immigrated to the United States from his native El Salvador. First he lived in California and later settled in Dallas, Texas where he currently lives.

In 2001 he had the opportunity to obtain Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which has welcomed more than 200,000 Salvadorans.

However, the 42-year-old man fears for his future and that of his family because at the beginning of the year the Trump administration announced that it will end the TPS for Salvadoran immigrants in September 2019.

"I have TPS, my wife also has TPS and we have two American citizen daughters. Our life is here, "said Murillo.

For this reason, he quit his job as an air conditioner installer and with his family has decided to leave his home in Texas for a while to participate in a proTPS movement that will begin in Los Angeles.


Edwin Murillo with his wife and two daughters will be part of the first group of the caravan by the TPS. (Supplied)
Two decades in the United States
Another participant is Evelyn Hernandez, 44, who will also be part of the caravan "TPS Journey for Justice Caravan" (Caravan Trip for Justice of the TPS) in which more than 20 people will go to raise awareness about the importance of TPS

The Salvadoran woman left her native land at age 18 and obtained her TPS in 2001.


For more than two decades he has forged his life in Los Angeles; She has three US citizen children, ages 22, 21 and 19, and currently works at the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) in Los Angeles.

"Our focus is to fight to stay (here in the United States). We know that 95% of TPS beneficiaries have families here, "said Hernández. "I have lived more than half of my life here and it does not make me right that they take it away from us [the TPS] for nothing else but to kick us in the ass and return (to our countries)."

He added that his main concern to be returned to El Salvador is that that nation does not have the necessary help for repatriates.


"There is no way to receive us and for many jobs I am already old. They would not hire me because of my age, "he explained.

Murillo said he is not worried about leaving his job and going on this trip with his wife and 10 and 5 year old daughters.

"If by 2019 we do not have TPS anyway I will be out of work. We have to fight as much as we can, "said Murillo. "We will visit some 52 cities in 32 states hoping to find a permanent solution to the TPS," he explained.

Evelyn Hernández with her three children. Two of them will accompany her during a week in her trip in the caravan. (Supplied)
The caravan is led by the National Alliance TPS in collaboration with CARECEN and the National Network of Day Laborers (NDLON). With this movement it is hoped to prevent the cancellation of the TPS to several countries including El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Nepal and Somalia.

So far about half a million people benefit from the permit that includes a temporary legal stay and the right to work.


The caravan
The caravan is divided into two groups; one will focus on the west coast and the other on the east coast. The trip in total will last approximately three months.

During the 12 weeks, TPS families will stop at different points to participate in vigils, community assemblies, rights awareness sessions, forums, round tables, concerts, demonstrations, leadership development activities and meetings with political candidates and elected officials.

They will also join with local and collective committees to make a national call to keep families together and fight for permanent legal residence with a path to citizenship.

"We want to meet other beneficiaries of TPS and tell them not to be treated for a miracle, that maybe they exist, but to do something," said Hernández.