International Day of Combatting Islamophobia
Learn about the connection between Islamophobia and NYC's Migrant Crisis
What is Islamophobia?
Islamophobia is a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim.1
Connecting Islamophobia and Asylum Seekers
One way to combat Islamophobia in New York is to advocate for Muslim asylum seekers
What it means and what you can do to help.
Many asylum seekers in New York City are from countries, whose political, social, and economic situation warrants Temporary Protected Status. In Mauritania, slavery was criminalized in only 2007 and an estimated 340,000 to 680,000 Mauritanians are still enslaved.2 In Guinea, sexual violence, genital mutilation, and forced marriage are exceedingly common and directly connected to a militarized police force.3 In Senegal, the country is on the brink of a military coup4 while a 40-year insurgency in the Casamance region continues to endanger and displace people.5 Many asylum seekers in New York City are from these three countries. Currently, they are working through the asylum system, a slow process toward citizenship and work authorization.
What is Temporary Protected Status?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is an immigration designation that grants individuals in the U.S. from specific countries additional rights for periods of 18 months at a time.
TPS would not grant asylum seekers immediate citizenship, but rather would give them access to key rights, including work authorization. TPS would help them to get on their feet and then go through the citizenship process, instead of putting them through unsafe living conditions and illegal jobs
Rights With TPS
Protection against being removed from the country
Protection against being detained by DHS
Eligibility for work papers
Eligibility for travel papers
Why are countries granted TPS?
Continuous armed conflict
Environmental disaster
Other temporary circumstances that make the country unsafe
Who is eligible for TPS?
Resident of a country that’s been granted TPS
Has filed for TPS status
Has been physically in the United States since the date specified for the country
Countries with TPS
Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen
Countries without TPS
Angola, Ghana, Guinea, Eritrea, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, among many others
Combatting Islamophobia through one Advocacy Call / Email
Hi, I'm ______ and am concerned with the humanitarian crises in many West African Countries. Amid political unrest, credible threat of persecution, and violence, many of these countries should be granted TPS. I am calling to appeal for the designation of Temporary Protected Status for Mauritania, Guinea, or Senegal, and that it should happen immediately. Can you push President Biden on this issue?
You can also leave him a written message here!