NY Attorney General urges Trump administration to grant TPS to Jamaicans after Hurricane Melissa
Published:Monday | November 17, 2025 | 3:46 PM
New York Attorney General Letitia James has called on the Trump Administration to extend its Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Jamaicans in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The Category 5 storm killed at least 45 people and displaced tens of thousands when it barrelled through western Jamaica on October 28.
James, in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday, urged the administration to immediately grant TPS to Jamaicans, allowing those who are eligible in the United States and are unable to return to the island to safely live and work in the US with legal status.
The US has previously granted TPS to immigrants from countries such as Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal following similar natural disasters.
“Hurricane Melissa has caused unimaginable damage to our neighbours in Jamaica, displacing tens of thousands of people, destroying vital infrastructure, and severely limiting access to basic necessities,” said James.
“Forcing Jamaicans in the United States to return home to a devastated island would be dangerous and cruel. Situations like this are exactly what TPS was intended for, and our federal government should extend TPS to Jamaicans to help keep people safe while the island rebuilds,” she added.
TPS is a US government programme that provides temporary protection from deportation to eligible individuals from designated countries facing conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions.
To qualify for TPS, you must be a national of the designated country and file within the deadline (or qualify for late filing).
Persons must demonstrate continuous physical presence and continuous residence since the specified dates, with limited exceptions for brief, innocent departures.
- Kimone Francis
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