Reps. David Trone, Adriano Espaillat Introduce New Resolution Urging Humanitarian Parole for Cameroon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2024
Reps. David Trone, Adriano Espaillat Introduce New Resolution Urging Humanitarian Parole for Cameroon
The resolution calls on the Department of Homeland Security to extend a humanitarian lifeline to Cameroonian immigrants fleeing unprecedented violence and human rights abuses in the African nation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman David Trone (D-MD) joined Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), along with original cosponsors Representatives Glenn Ivey (MD-04), David Trone (MD-06), CA Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-5), James P. McGovern (MA-02), and Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16), in introducing the Humanitarian Parole for Cameroon Resolution, which calls on the Department of Homeland Security to create a humanitarian parole program for deserving Cameroonian immigrants who are fleeing multiple ongoing wars and widespread human rights violations in their home country.
“I am proud to represent Maryland, which is home to the largest Cameroonian population in the country. And as a nation of immigrants ourselves, we cannot abandon our ability to lend a helping hand to those fleeing violence,” said Congressman David Trone. “This legislation will ensure that Cameroonians seeking safe harbor from unprecedented conflict can continue to find a home and build a life in the United States.”
The Humanitarian Parole for Cameroon Resolution is endorsed by Human Rights First, the Cameroon American Council, the Cameroon Advocacy Network, the Cameroon Muslim Student Union (CAMSU), African Communities Together (ACT), and several other prominent immigrant rights groups.
Cameroon is grappling with multiple armed conflicts, widespread corruption, and political instability, resulting in a mass exodus from the country. Disturbing reports from Human Rights Watch reveal that Cameroonian authorities routinely subject returned sports and their families to severe human rights violations as punishment for fleeing the unrest in Cameroon. Recognizing the instability in Cameroon, the Department of Homeland Security recently redesignated and extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroonian nationals in October 2023. However, this protection does not apply to Cameroonian refugees and asylum seekers who arrived in the US after October 5, 2023, creating an ongoing gap in protection. This gap is especially troubling in light of the documented nonsense treatment of Cameroonian immigrants navigating the ordinary US asylum system.
Historically, the US has established over 120 programmatic or categorical parole programs for deserving immigrant populations from various regions. However, in the seventy-year history of US humanitarian parole, the US has yet to create such a parole program for an African country. As called for in the resolution, the US now has a chance to rectify this disparity by assisting Cameroonian immigrants by providing them with life-saving humanitarian parole in their time of need.
Read the resolution in its entirety here.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Budget, and Joint Economic Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders.
Follow Congressman Trone at @RepDavidTrone for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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