FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 6, 2023
Contact: Bethelhem T. Negash bethelhem@undocublack.org
Washington D.C., October 6, 2023 – The UndocuBlack Network celebrates the announcement of the extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroon. This decision is a testament to the dedication of Cameroonian community members and advocates who have long highlighted the ongoing armed conflicts and socio-political tensions in Cameroon. The country conditions in Cameroon have left thousands of dead, 4.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and over 1 million people internally displaced. Deporting anyone to Cameroon would be an amoral and cruel act. It is not lost on us that our communities fought tirelessly to convince the Biden-Harris administration to make the choice of designating TPS for Cameroon.
Taisha Saintil, Senior Policy Analyst and Founding Member of Cameroon Advocacy Network, said “We welcome this much-needed announcement and rejoice with our Cameroonian siblings. We are grateful for all the partner organizations and allies whom we worked alongside to get this victory. We will continue to work with and follow the leadership of the Cameroonian community to ensure that their needs are heard and prioritized. As we celebrate this designation, we also remember other members of our community in the U.S. who need the humanitarian protection and relief of TPS.”
Nationals from Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Nigeria are all experiencing country conditions that make it unsafe for their respective nationals to be returned. The UndocuBlack Network will continue to request that the Biden-Harris administration keep its promises to Black immigrant communities by providing protection for those who would face harm if returned to their home countries. Anything less is a conscious choice to lean into anti-Blackness by prioritizing deportation flights over the lives of Black immigrants.
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