New York Attorney General Letitia James is pushing for the U.S. to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Jamaicans in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, a move that could provide respite to those affected by the storm's brutal impact on the Caribbean island. In a statement obtained by the Attorney General's Office, James outlined the catastrophic conditions in Jamaica following the hurricane's landfall on October 28, including at least 45 deaths and a landscape scarred by $2 billion in damages, pleading with the Department of Homeland Security to act in accordance with America's precedent of offering shelter to those displaced by calamity.
Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, ranking as the most powerful storm the island has ever endured, with infrastructural ruin and tens of thousands of people being displaced, the storm has not only ravaged buildings, but it's left a population in dire lack of basic services—basic necessities like clean water, electricity, and medical care have become luxuries for many, as Attorney General James stressed in her appeal to the federal government. The Attorney General's call echoes a legacy of humanitarian relief that the U.S. has extended to nations hit by disasters in the past, such as Honduras and Nicaragua post-Hurricane Mitch in 1999 and Haiti and Nepal after their respective earthquakes in 2010 and 2015.
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke backed James' motion, describing the disaster in Jamaica as unprecedented and affirming America's "moral and diplomatic obligation" to aid a longtime ally. In a letter leading a group of 43 congressional colleagues, Clarke stressed that the U.S. must not exacerbate Jamaica's pain by deporting its nationals during the ongoing recovery efforts, as detailed in an interview with James' office. Additional support came from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., whose Jamaican heritage deeply influenced his stance on providing TPS to those affected, arguing that America's assistance should transcend politics during this critical time of rebuilding.
Voices from New York’s Caribbean community, including Assemblymembers Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Brian Cunningham, Alicia L. Hyndman, and City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, have joined the call for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Jamaica. They emphasized the impact of Hurricane Melissa on both the island and the Jamaican diaspora. These officials echoed Attorney General James’ concerns about the safety risks facing Jamaicans in the U.S. if they were required to return under current conditions.
