Consul General of Guatemala Pablo Garcia Saenz addressed members of U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Speaker Harry Reid's Washington, D.C. staffers, Angela Arboleda, senior advisor for Hispanic and Asian affairs; and Jessica Lewis, national security advisor, on the critical need to secure Temporary Protected Status for Guatemalans living in the United States.
Consul Garcia mentioned the great devastation and displacement of thousands of people on account of hurricane Agatha, the volcanic eruptions of Pacaya, and the floods from tropical storm Alex. "Villagers were buried alive, great number of rural residents, caked in mud, continue to search in the wreckage of their homes for loved ones. We are grateful for the generous support from the international community, but the truth is that Guatemala lacks the resources to meet the growing needs of the people as a result of hurricane Agatha. A prompt TPS for Guatemalans in the United States would allow families to continue receiving financial support from their loved ones working in the U.S.," commented Consul Garcia.
Angela Arboleda explained the lengthy process and offered the example one-year wait for the approval of the TPS for Haiti. Arboleda asked for patience and hope. Ms. Arboleda also provided overviews of the recently approved Health Reform and spoke about Senator Reid's desire to bring immigration reform to the front of the discussions in Washington, D.C.
Jose Salazar, vice president of the Guatemalan Unity Committee of Nevada, presented Angela Arboleda with a letter addressed to U.S. Senator Harry Reid, requesting his support for an expeditious issuance of the TPS for Guatemalans in the United States. Salazar also thanked Senator Reid's regional representative Christina Martinez for organizing the Health, Immigration, and TPS Forum at the International Church in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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