Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Andrew J. Meyers
Department: County Attorney
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2021-501, the title of which is as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, URGING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO EXTEND TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS (“TPS”) DESIGNATION FOR HONDURAS AND TO DECLARE A NEW INITIAL TPS DESIGNATION DATE FOR HONDURAS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness)
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Why Action is Necessary
Formal Board approval is necessary for the adoption of a Resolution.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the adoption of the above Resolution.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
On January 5, 1999, Honduran nationals who were present in the United States as of that date were granted Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) as a result of the devastation caused to Honduras by Hurricane Mitch, which killed over 10,000 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and caused over $5 billion in damage. Since then, the TPS designation for Honduras had been extended on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, TPS designation for Honduras was terminated by the Trump Administration, and the validity of TPS-related documentation for beneficiaries under TPS for Honduras will expire on December 31, 2022.
Honduras continues to face numerous challenges, including devastation caused by Category 4 Hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020, which exacerbated already difficult conditions in the country. These conditions warrant the declaration of a new initial TPS designation date for Honduras to allow Hondurans who first arrived in the United States more recently to seek TPS. The failure to redesignate Honduras for TPS and declare a new TPS designation date will create tremendous hardship for Honduras and Hondurans currently living in the United States under TPS.
The proposed Resolution urges the Biden Administration through President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to extend TPS designation for Honduras and to declare a new initial TPS designation date for the country.
Source of Additional Information
Heidi Richards, Chief of Staff, District 9, 954-357-7009
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
None.