For Immediate Release: Friday, July 14, 2017
Rapidly increasing asylum petitions
following concerns of possible TPS cancellation
to be featured topic on
Council Radio America show
At 2:30 p.m. TODAY, Friday, July 14,
on WACA 1540 AM,
‘En Sintonía con el Concejo del Conado de Montgomery’
will have experts talking about it
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 14, 2017—Many immigrants in the metropolitan area filing for asylum with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after rumors of the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The facts about the issued will be the featured topic at 2:30 p.m. TODAY, Friday, July 14, on En Sintonía con el Concejo del Condado de Montgomery (Tuned In with the Montgomery County Council). The Montgomery County Council’s weekly show on Radio America (WACA 1540 AM) will feature immigration lawyer Dagoberto Rodríguez, psychologist Gabriela Romo and Montgomery resident and current petitioner Roxana Hernandez talking about the program.
After Home Land Security Secretary John Kelly implied that TPS might come to an end, many County residents started looking for new alternatives to legally remain in the County. Immigration experts and Latino rights advocates are reporting a sharp increase in asylum petitions of those who are afraid to go back to their countries. Earlier this week, the Congressional Hispanic Commission met with Secretary Kelly to talk about the precarious living situation of millions of immigrants in the country. However, according to those who participated in the meeting, Secretary Kelly affirmed that it is still possible that TPS and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) could come to an end by September.
Many of those asking for asylum are doing it on the grounds of crime and violence in their home countries, but according to immigration experts, it is not an easy petition.
Ms. Hernandez will share her story about abuse and how MS13 gang members were recruiting her 10-year-old daughter.
The Montgomery County Council and Radio America have entered into a partnership that provides the Latino community with key information on issues and programs. The partnership also provides a forum for residents to express views and ask questions. The partnership includes the weekly one- hour show each Friday on the Washington metropolitan area’s most popular Spanish language station. Lilian Mass is the show’s host.
Each week, the show features guests talking about important issues before the Council and provides information about programs offered by the County to help residents.
In addition to the radio broadcast, the show can be heard via the Internet at: http://tunein.com/radio/Radio-America-1540-s6029/ .
Video links with a summary of the show are available each week at the County Council's newly-redesigned, mobile friendly web site at: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council .
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