In the Bay Area, Progressive Labor Party (PLP) comrades attended rallies, and some lobbied politicians to support the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS holders and other immigrant workers have become scapegoats for the bosses’ attacks. But the real barrier for the working class is that U.S. capitalists compete for control of profits around the world. PLP members distributed flyers to explain how the TPS program illustrates that we must get rid of capitalism and build a communist world.  International working-class unity will destroy all borders.

Bosses steal profits from immigrant workers

TPS workers’ labor adds billions in profits for U.S. bosses and subsidizes the federal government. Estimates are that TPS holders yearly generate around $29 billion for the U.S. economy (FWD.US, April 21).  TPS holders also generate $7.8 billion in federal payroll, state, and local taxes. Despite this theft filling the bosses’ coffers, the TPS program has never provided a path to permanent residency or U.S. citizenship no matter how many years a recipient lived or worked in the U.S.

Recent struggles of TPS workers

As expected, the U.S. ruling class has launched several racist and sexist attacks on TPS holders that show the bosses attempting to divide the working class by nationalism. 

In Minneapolis, President Donald Trump called the Minnesota Somali community “garbage” in December 2025. Then, ICE targeted Somali immigrants during Operation Metro Surge.  The TPS program for Somalis was extended due to a court order. The fight continues but leaves Somali workers with an insecure status.                                                                                                                                                                    

In Colorado, TPS workers on strike in the meat processing industry in Greeley showed potential for working-class international unity and rejection of borders. Approximately 3,800 workers, speaking 50 different languages, many with TPS, went on strike at the JBS USA meatpacking plant in March (AP News, April 13).  This was the first major strike in the U.S. meatpacking industry in 40 years, driven by demands for better pay, safety, and unfair labor practices.                                                                                                                                                                           

In Oakland, coalitions of various organizations hosted rallies in 2026 to support the extension of TPS for Haitians. The coalition included the NorCal TPS Coalition (which focuses on Spanish-speaking countries in Central and South America), Myanmar Student Union, Community Liberation Programs, Haiti Action Committee, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.  Speakers addressed El Salvador, Haiti, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Afghanistan and other areas.  Our PLP flyer documented capitalism as the problem and was well received.

PLP members strive to develop workers’ solidarity. These actions show the potential for destroying borders and building international working-class unity.  We hope comrades around the country will contact us in the Bay Area as they meet TPS holders in struggle. This unity is the basis for building a communist world.  We in PLP remember the tremendous unity in 2006 “A Day without Immigrants” and work to create international working-class unity.

History of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Program

Originally, TPS was presented as “Humanitarian Relief” in the Immigration Act of 1990. It was for people from countries suffering civil war or natural disasters, like El Salvador and Haiti. However, hidden behind this façade of “Humanitarian Relief” was that the CIA supported “friendly” factions in civil wars - in El Salvador the Arena Party; in Haiti, a coup against Jean Paul Aristide. 

The TPS program uses racism and nationalism

We all heard the racist diatribes against Haitians during Trump’s Presidential race in 2024. Attacks in Minnesota started with attacking Black immigrants from Somalia!  Black and Latin immigrants are the focus of ICE raids. To build divisions, TPS status expires every 18 months with different dates set due to the 17 countries of origin.  

Here is the “humanitarian impact on these TPS workers, no matter the 17 countries;  Afghanistan, Burma, Myanmar, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela and Yemen:

1) Tremendous insecurity and threat of deportation when the TPS status is not renewed every 18 months.  Renewal dates vary country to country to prevent workers’ unity.  This threat continues no matter how long a TPS worker has been in the U.S.                                                                                                                         
2) The work permits granted means they pay taxes on their wages and contribute to social security and Medicare. The estimates in 2025-26 document that TPS holders generated $5.2 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. Threats of discontinuing TPS and bureaucratic delays mean that many TPS holders are denied government benefits.  

3) TPS holders face high costs every time permits expire or are canceled, as it costs $575 per person every 18 months.  Travel home (called “Advanced Parole, only 30 days.”) costs an additional fee of $575. “ If you overstay your visit, you can’t return to the U.S. These fees to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) do not include additional legal fees to fight the bureaucracy.