18 Apr 2022

Rep. Bass Applauds White House Action on Temporary Protected Status for Cameroonian Nationals

In response to the DOJ announcement regarding Cameroonian nationals in the US, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued a statement applauding the Biden Administration’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation to Cameroon, which will provide lifesaving protections for Cameroonian nationals in the United States amid the current humanitarian crisis in the country.

This past November, Congressmember Bass, along with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), sent a letter supported by 43 Members of Congress to President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas requesting an immediate 18-month designation of either TPS or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Cameroon. In February, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution Congressmember Bass introduced strongly condemning ongoing violence and abuses occurring in Cameroon.

“I applaud Secretary Mayorkas’ decision to provide Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Cameroonian nationals currently residing in the U.S. who cannot return safely to their homes due to the extreme violence that continues in Cameroon,” said Congressmember Bass. “The TPS designation will last for eighteen months allowing people to continue to work and live without fear of persecution, just as we pushed for in November. The violence and unrest that has taken place in Cameroon for over five years must immediately come to an end and I will continue to work towards peace.”