Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined 131 other International, National, and Local NGO's and Faith Based Organizations in asking President Biden's administration to extend TPS for South Sudan. Temporary Protective Status (TPS) can save lives by preventing immigration enforcement from deporting South Sudanese people back to extremely dangerous conditions. South Sudan currently sees extreme violence, including targeted killings and Gender Based Violence. Only 41% of the population has access to clean water and 11% to sanitation facilities. Malaria, HIV/AIDS, COVID, Ebola, polio, and cholera are leading causes of death. Read as a PDF.
RE: Request for 18-Month Extension and Redesignation of TPS for South Sudan
Dear President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, and Secretary Blinken,
The below 132 organizations request an 18-month extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudan. South Sudan’s TPS designation is set to expire on November 3, 2023, but life-threatening conditions have continued to make safe return impossible. The detrimental effects of climate change, civilian casualty, inadequate access to healthcare, and abject poverty present an unlivable condition that qualifies South Sudan for extension and redesignation. An extension and redesignation of TPS status is amply vital for the protection of South Sudanese individuals who currently hold TPS as well as those who have arrived in the United States since the last redesignation in 2022. Additionally, an extension and redesignation of TPS will result in the protection and security of human life in line with the democratic principles the United States was built upon.
By statute, the Secretary of Homeland Security must decide whether to extend and redesignate TPS for South Sudan by September 4, 2023. The Secretary is authorized to redesignate a country for TPS and extend a TPS designation simultaneously. We call for a redesignation and extension, publication of a Federal Register Notice, at least a 180-day registration period for both current TPS holders and those who would benefit under redesignation, and launch of a public education campaign to inform the impacted community by that date.
I. Temporary Protected Status
TPS allows people from a designated country to remain in the United States while conditions in their home country make safe return impossible. The Secretary of Homeland Security can designate a country for TPS if the country is experiencing ongoing armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. TPS allows its beneficiaries to stay in the United States during the designation period and to receive work permits. It is a life-saving protection, including for those who are ineligible for or who have been denied asylum but would be in danger if returned to their home country.
II. Conditions Affecting South Sudan’s Citizens
South Sudan has continued to be stricken with violent conflict. The UN mission to South Sudan reported that “cattle-related inter-communal conflict and land disputes with ethnic undertones resulted in 579 civilian casualties between 1 December 2022 and 15 February 2023 and continued to undermine the peace process.” Civilians are increasingly gaining access to arms and ammunition increasing the deadly impact of clashes. Women and children are left vulnerable to these attacks. Over 129 children, 30% under 15 years old, have been recruited by armed groups to contribute to the violence. Child soldiers may serve as combatants, cooks, and bodyguards and are needlessly put in danger. A 2022 Human Rights Council report alleges that men and boys are intentionally and systematically targeted for killings, actions which are officiated through government-aligned forces. Women and girls face gender-based violence during violent clashes. This has created a gendered division in the demographics of asylum seekers. According to the nonprofit USA for the UN Refugee Agency, “80% of the South Sudanese refugee population are women and children.”
South Sudan’s population is not only affected by armed conflict, their failing infrastructures around healthcare, food access, and sanitation are a leading cause for displacement. USAID reports that only 41% of the population have access to drinking water and 11% have access to sanitation facilities. In the wake of COVID-19, the importance of healthcare access has been revealed to be detrimental to maintaining a healthy population. Infections such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, Ebola, polio, and cholera are leading causes of death.
South Sudan faces a dual crisis of drought and flooding, making food access scarce. World Food Programme states, “Four consecutive years of record flooding has led to the widespread displacement, the destruction of livelihoods and the loss of arable land-contributing to rising hunger.” Land contamination has increased food scarcity, as 16 million square miles have explosive, hazardous contamination. The 16 million square miles stretch over nine cities, all of which are affected by food insecurity. It is estimated that 76% of the population will require humanitarian assistance in 2023. That is 9.4 million people who are impacted by the volatile nature of South Sudan’s political and environmental climate. The war in neighboring Sudan leaves conditions in South Sudan uncertain. Refugees who had fled north into Sudan are forced to return to South Sudan, which has struggled to resettle them. The war in Sudan not only has a human toll on South Sudan but may even result in an economic toll. The government in South Sudan has relied on oil as a means of propping up the economy. Oil makes up 90% of the revenue, and 70% of their GDP, but exports are split 50% between both states. By proxy, South Sudan’s future is dependent on the stability of Sudan. In continuing the National Emergency with Respect to South Sudan, the Biden administration recognized the severity of the situation and its potential implications on insecurity in the region and globally. These threats result from ongoing armed conflict, instability, and violence, which endanger the lives of the South Sudanese population. An extension and redesignation align with the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.
III. Conclusion
We are calling on you to extend for 18 months and redesignate TPS for South Sudan, to publish a timely Federal Register Notice, provide at least a 180-day registration period, and to launch a culturally relevant public information campaign to notify the impacted community of the decision and any actions they must take by the decision’s announcement. Please contact Diana Konaté at diana@africans.us, or Ramya Reddy at ramya@masadc.com with any questions or to arrange for stakeholder engagement. Thank you.
Sincerely,