A coalition of advocacy groups has called on U.S. President Joe Biden to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Special Student Relief (SSR) to Nigerians residing in the United States before the end of his administration.
The coalition, which includes the Nigerian Centre, Nigerian American Lawyers Association, Amnesty International, and The One Campaign, made the appeal last Tuesday. The groups emphasized that Nigerians have made significant contributions to the U.S. economy through their skills and labor.
Gbenga Ogunjimi, Director of the Nigerian Centre, shared the coalition’s position in a statement posted on the center’s website.
Leaders from the coalition recently met with officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. State Department, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and other federal agencies to push for immigration relief for Nigerians.
Ogunjimi highlighted the importance of prioritizing this request as part of a policy recommendation for the incoming administration, especially considering its stated commitment to merit-based immigration, which is highly relevant for individuals with in-demand skills in the U.S. economy.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allows individuals from specific countries to remain in the U.S. if returning home is deemed unsafe, while Special Student Relief (SSR) provides benefits to eligible F-1 students under certain conditions.
The Nigerian Centre, based in Washington, D.C., is the first immigrant and cultural center for Nigerians in the diaspora.
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