'Continuum Of Cruelty': Curtatone Slams Trump's Salvadoran Move

SOMERVILLE, MA – The White House announced Monday the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) program for people from El Salvador will come to an end, requiring some 200,000 immigrants to leave the country within 18 months. The Department of Homeland Security said the termination of the TPS designation for El Salvador was required pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The Salvadorans were granted TPS status after earthquakes devastated their country in 2001. In its decision this week the DHS said an evaluation of El Salvador determined "that the original conditions caused by the 2001 earthquakes no longer exist."

To allow for an orderly transition, the DHS will delay the termination for 18 months. The designation will end on Sept. 9, 2019.

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, who has been an outspoken critic of President Trump's immigration policies, blasted the White House announcement Monday, calling it "part of the administration's continuum of cruelty."

"This nation invited TPS holders here. We offered them safe refuge. Despite the traumas some have left behind and the challenge of starting over in a new country, they have done what Americans do. They roll up their sleeves, work hard, care for their families, contribute to their communities, and put in the effort to pursue the American dream," Curtatone said in a statement. "This decision punishes them for simply accepting our extended hand. Now that they’ve put down roots, purchased homes, become valuable employees, and opened businesses, this administration for no good reason has decided to rip their lives apart."

Curtatone went on to say that immigrants fighting against "cold-hearted and craven" policies will have the support of the city of Somerville. The city will continue to offer free legal clinics to help those affected by the decision explore avenues to a different immigration status and work with local community groups to provide support, the mayor said.

Read Curtatone's full statement below:

Ending Salvadoran TPS with plans to deport nearly 200,000 upstanding immigrants who work hard, pay
taxes, and contribute to the fiber of our communities is more than unjustified, unnecessary, and
inhumane; it’s also reckless and irresponsible. On the heels of the decisions to also end TPS for
Nicaraguans and Haitians, this is part of the administration’s continuum of cruelty.

This nation invited TPS holders here. We offered them safe refuge. Despite the traumas some have left
behind and the challenge of starting over in a new country, they have done what Americans do. They
roll up their sleeves, work hard, care for their families, contribute to their communities, and put in the
effort to pursue the American dream. This decision punishes them for simply accepting our extended
hand. Now that they’ve put down roots, purchased homes, become valuable employees, and opened
businesses, this administration for no good reason has decided to rip their lives apart.

In short, these are scary, chaotic times, and I, unfortunately, cannot promise that everything will be ok.
But I can promise our residents or anyone that finds themselves or a loved one fighting against these
cold-hearted and craven immigration policies, that they will not have to fight alone. Somerville stands
with you, and as the Mayor, I will continue to stand with you for as long as it takes.

We will do everything we can to fight this decision. At the same time, we are working to assist members
of our community who are or who will be affected. We will continue to offer free legal clinics to help
people explore pathways to a different immigration status while also working with a variety of
community groups to determine how else we can best support our friends, neighbors and colleagues.

Immigrants are invaluable members of our community. We must continue to make it clear that the lies
and policies coming out of Washington intended to demonize them and harm our nation will not be
tolerated. We will continue to fight for true American values and common human decency. We will
continue to rally behind our neighbors and treat everyone with compassion and dignity. For as long as it
takes, we will continue to stand up for TPS recipients, DACA recipients, and all members of our
immigrant communities, regardless of status.

Cody Fenwick (Patch Staff) contributed to this report

Photo: CASA de Maryland, an immigration advocacy and assistance organization, holds a rally in Lafayette Park, across from the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in reaction to the announcement regarding Temporary Protective Status for people from El Salvador. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)