Latest news with #Cameroonians
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What is temporary protected status and who is affected by Trump's crackdown?
Millions of people live legally in the United States under various forms of temporary legal protection. Many have been targeted in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The latest move has been against people who have what is known as 'temporary protected status' (TPS), which grants people the right to stay in the US legally due to extraordinary circumstances in their home country such as war or environmental catastrophe. The Trump administration has in recent weeks announced its plan to end TPS for Haitians, Venezuelans, Afghans and Cameroonians. The move may force more than 9,000 Afghan refugees to move back to the country now ruled by the Taliban. The administration also is ending the designation for roughly half a million Haitians in August. Related: US supreme court allows Trump to revoke protected status for Venezuelans Here's what to know about TPS and some other temporary protections for immigrants: Temporary protected status allows people already living in the United States to stay and work legally for up to 18 months if their homelands are unsafe because of civil unrest or natural disasters. The Biden administration dramatically expanded the designation. It covers people from more than a dozen countries, though the largest numbers come from Venezuela and Haiti. The status does not put immigrants on a long-term path to citizenship and can be repeatedly renewed. Critics say renewal has become in effect automatic for many immigrants, no matter what is happening in their home countries. According to the American Immigration Council, ending TPS designations would lead to a significant economic loss for the US. The non-profit found that TPS households in the country earned more than $10bn in total income in 2021, and paid nearly $1.3bn in federal taxes. On Monday, the supreme court allowed the administration to end protections that had allowed some 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants to remain in the United States. Many Venezuelans were first granted TPS in 2021 by the Biden administration, allowing those who were already in the US to apply for protection from deportation and gain work authorization. Then, in 2023, the Biden administration issued an additional TPS designation for Venezuelans, and in January – just before Trump took office – extended those protections through October 2026. The Trump administration officials had ordered TPS to expire for those Venezuelans in April. The supreme court's decision lifted a federal judge's ruling that had paused the administration's plans, meaning TPS holders are now at risk of losing their protections and could face deportation. More than 500,000 people from what are sometimes called the CHNV countries – Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela – live in the US under the legal tool known as humanitarian parole, which allows people to enter the US temporarily, on the basis that they have an urgent humanitarian need like a medical emergency. This category, however, is also under threat by the Trump administration. In late March, the Trump administration announced plans to terminate humanitarian parole for approximately 530,000 Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, Cubans and Haitians. In April, a federal judge issued a temporary order barring the elimination of the humanitarian parole program. But last week, the administration took the issue to the supreme court, asking it to allow it to end parole for immigrants from those four countries. The emergency appeal said a lower-court order had wrongly encroached on the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. US administrations – both Republican and Democratic – have used parole for decades for people unable to use regular immigration channels, whether because of time pressure or bad relations between their country and the US. The case now returns to the lower courts. For the California-based federal court, the next hearing is on 29 May. For the Massachusetts case, no hearings are scheduled and attorneys are working on a briefing for the motion to dismiss filed by the government, according to WGBH, a member station of National Public Radio in Massachusetts. The appeals court hearing will be the week of 11 July.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Paint, parades and power: Africa's top shots
A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond: Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother Remembering Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o - a giant of African literature Could Nigeria's careful ethnic balancing act be under threat? Namibia marks colonial genocide for first time with memorial day 'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiers Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
Kuwait Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Online or on stage, C.African comics try to break through
Under a mango tree in a residential area of Bangui, the filming of "Problem Booth" is under way, a series of skits imagined by Lemuel Luther-King Godonam and a few fellow comedians. Filming, then uploading the videos to build a following is an uphill struggle in the Central African Republic, a war-scarred country that is one of the world's poorest and where internet penetration is just 15.5 percent. But Godonam, a 19-year-old high school student, is undeterred. As "Luther LG" he leads the troupe, playing the harassed owner of a shop dealing with problem customers and the girl selling peanuts next door. He just wants to make a name for himself. "It's a new thing for us," he said, explaining the lack of scripts and dialogue, and the use of a simple sign as scenery. "You can count comedians here on the fingers of one hand," he added. 'People need this' A few curious locals stopped to see how it was all done. "I thought they just did this on the phone but there's real effort behind it," said 21-year-old student Kharl Malibangar, marveling at the booms, mics and cameras. "I want to encourage them, like their channels, subscribe and give them likes," he added. "Humor helps a lot of people. We've been through war and people need this to escape and relax." Actress Manuella Koula, known as Poutine, talks into a microphone ahead of the filming of a comedy sketch on the outskirts of Bangui. Director Luther Lemuel Godonam (center) poses for a photograph with the rest of the team after filming a comedy sketch on the outskirts of Bangui. Gervais Symphorien Kpignonin (center), a member of the Bangui Parrots, performs during their comedy sketch at the Missy Momo cultural center as part of an event marking the beginning of the cultural season in Bangui. The Bangui Parrots perform a comedy sketch at the Missy Momo cultural center during an event marking the beginning of the cultural season in Bangui. Godonam said he wants to take comedy from the CAR "to another level" and win fame outside the country. That is why the young performers, aged between 19 and 24, speak in French rather than Sango, one of the country's official languages. "It's not just Central Africans who follow me," said Godonam, who dreams of being as popular as Cameroonians, Ivorians or Beninese on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. "Foreigners also need to understand what's being said, so I have to do it in French." Posting the videos online however is a challenge. "There isn't good internet connection here, which stops me from posting on certain networks," said one of the other comedians, Jessie Pavelle. "It stops me from getting noticed." Sometimes, the 2,000 CFA francs ($3.40) that 19-year-old Pavelle puts on her phone as credit is used up even before her video is online. Such problems mean they cannot rely on an online presence alone. Professionalize But the Central African capital is sorely lacking in the kind of comedy venues or events that Ivory Coast, a launchpad for comedians, enjoys. Niger's Mamane, whose "very, very democratic Republic of Gondwana" mocks dictatorial tendencies in Africa, has run the "Abidjan: capital of laughter" festival for the last 10 years. Ivory Coast's economic capital also boasts filming locations, where production companies create comedy shows, bars where stand-up nights are held regularly -- and even, in recent years, comedy schools. "Ivory Coast is the country of comedy," Mamane told AFP as he recorded his "Parliament of Laughter" show, broadcast on French channel Canal+. "You've just got to arrive at the airport in Abidjan and get off the plane... the Ivorian sense of humor is everywhere, it's become legendary and spread across west Africa and all of central Africa." Mamane said he could have spent his career in France. But he wanted to come back to help develop professional comedy in Africa. Next generation The Central African Republic is not quite there yet, said Gervais Symphorien Kpignon, from the famous Bangui Parrots troupe. Comedy spots are often limited to official political ceremonies or events organized by NGOs where the aim is to "raise awareness, sensitize and educate the population" through humor, he said. That's a far cry from the new wave, which is focused on more lightweight topics such as romantic relationships. To bridge a gap and ensure the future of Central African comedy, Yvon Cyrille Gone -- also known as Dr Mandjeke -- created the "Bangui Laughs" festival seven years ago. He also trains a new generation of young Central African comedians. "The young people who are coming up are good but they don't have enough experience so I decided to give them a hand," he said. That night, he added Jessie Pavelle's name at the last minute to perform alongside more experienced comedians. It was only her second time in front of an audience. The white plastic chairs at the Missy-Momo cultural space in Bangui were all taken and the audience burst out laughing when she joked about big guys being generous and skinny ones being stingy. "I really want to become the best-known Central African comedian in the world," she said after finishing her set. - AFP
Mint
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
What is Temporary Protected Status — why is it under threat from Trump's crackdown?
US Immigration Crackdown: The future of hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the United States under temporary legal protection hangs in the balance, as the Donald Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown. Recent actions have specifically targeted individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a designation granted to those unable to return to their home countries due to extraordinary circumstances such as armed conflict or natural disasters. The administration's decision to end TPS for Venezuelans, Haitians, Afghans, and Cameroonians has drawn sharp criticism. Concerns have been raised about the potential forced return of over 9,000 Afghan refugees to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and the displacement of approximately half a million Haitians. TPS allows eligible individuals to reside and work legally in the US for up to 18 months, with the possibility of repeated renewals. Critics argue that these renewals have become virtually automatic, regardless of conditions in the immigrants' home countries. Legal challenges surrounding these policies have reached the Supreme Court, which recently permitted the Trump administration to terminate protections for Venezuelans that had been previously granted by the Biden administration. This ruling lifted a lower court decision that had temporarily paused the administration's plans, placing TPS holders at immediate risk of losing their protected status and facing potential deportation. Beyond TPS, other forms of humanitarian relief are under threat. The Trump administration has moved to end humanitarian parole for over half a million people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Humanitarian parole allows individuals to enter the US temporarily based on urgent humanitarian needs. Although a federal judge initially blocked the termination of this programme, the administration has appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking to end parole for immigrants from these four countries. The case is now returning to the lower courts. These policy shifts have sparked widespread debate about the economic and social impact of ending temporary immigration protections. The American Immigration Council estimates that TPS households earned over $10 billion in total income in 2021 and paid nearly $1.3 billion in federal taxes, highlighting their significant contributions to the US economy. As legal battles continue and policy changes unfold, the future remains uncertain for millions of immigrants and the communities they support.
Boston Globe
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Trump canceled deportation protections. Here's where legal challenges stand.
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up But other cases involving immigrants with protected status are moving forward, as well, with thousands of people in limbo. Here's what to know about the major challenges to Trump's actions, and where things stand. Advertisement Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans: Noem v. Doe The Supreme Court has not yet released a decision on another emergency application that could affect Venezuelan immigrants. In that case, the Trump administration has asked the court to allow it to revoke deportation protections for migrants A lower court judge issued an emergency order in April blocking the termination of legal status of many of the more than 500,000 migrants who entered the country under the program. Advertisement That case involves a different protective shield — not the Temporary Protected Status program — that allowed people from those countries to enter and remain in the United States temporarily through a legal mechanism called humanitarian parole. That form of relief grants people temporary residence in the United States for urgent humanitarian or public interest reasons. Laura Kelley, Miami-Dade County Democratic Party Chair, (second from left) joined others to support a resolution in favor of reinstating temporary protected status for Venezuelans, on Feb. 13. Joe Raedle/Getty First filed in Massachusetts in February, the 'This lawsuit challenges the steps the Trump administration has taken to radically limit what had up to this point been a broad power granted by Congress to allow the executive to respond to migration challenges, address global humanitarian crises, and further important foreign policy objectives in a flexible and adaptive way,' the initial complaint said. Despite the Supreme Court considering one aspect of this case, it is far from over, and could affect people from other nations. The challenge also covers Ukrainians and Afghans who arrived in the United States under Biden-era programs that have since been canceled by the Trump administration. Afghans and Cameroonians: Trump v. CASA Filed on May 7, the case focuses on the termination of temporary protections for people from Afghanistan and Cameroon. It came in response to a plan set in motion by Noem in April that would end protected status for Afghans on May 20 and then for Cameroonians on June 7. Like similar challenges, the suit argues that Congress established a clear process for ending Temporary Protected Status, and that the Department of Homeland Security cannot abruptly circumvent it. Advertisement It also describes the effort as motivated by 'racial animus,' contrasting the Trump administration's targeting of individuals from 'nonwhite' countries with its efforts to remove immigration barriers for white South Africans. Afghan refugees arrived at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, in August 2021. KENNY HOLSTON/NYT After the court proposed moving quickly on an expedited timeline to get ahead of the May 20 deadline for Afghan nationals, the Department of Homeland Security agreed to slow its efforts somewhat and follow the process required by Congress, according to a filing this month. Under that process, the department must afford anyone on Temporary Protected Status at least 60 extra days in the country without fear of immigration enforcement action, and only after publishing its intent to end their status in The Federal Register. Haitians: Haitian Evangelical Clergy Association v. Trump Focused more narrowly on individuals fleeing Haiti, this case highlights the grim circumstances that It cites continuing gang violence and targeted killings, disease outbreaks and 'the collapse of Haiti's health care system,' and widespread starvation and homelessness as among the many factors that have resulted in the designation, and asks a judge in New York to intervene. A hearing to move the case forward is scheduled for next week, and lawyers for the plaintiffs had planned to ask the judge then to skip past a trial and summarily block any effort to immediately suspend protections for Haitians. The lawyers have argued that the Supreme Court's decision allowing the administration to lift protections for Venezuelans does not necessarily extend to their challenge, and asked the judge to keep the case moving. Advertisement Refugees from other countries: Pacito v. Trump Though not directly related to Temporary Protected Status, the case revolves around refugees — including some from Afghanistan and a host of South and Central American countries — whose admission and resettlement in the United States has been jeopardized by other policies the Trump administration has adopted. The case challenges the decision to suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, which has helped refugees resettle in the United States under a law passed by Congress in 1980. From left to right, Alexei Laushkin, Rev. Patrick Mahoney and Katie Mahoney held a banner that read "Protect the Haitian Community!" on the steps the US Capitol Building on March 6. Andrew Harnik/Getty A federal judge initially The lower court had ordered the Trump administration to move ahead and Last week, taking into account the appeals court's decision, the judge in that case revised that order, instead requiring the government to consider each applicant on a case-by-case basis. The judge also ordered the government to immediately 'process, admit and provide statutorily mandated resettlement support services' to 160 refugees who had plans to travel to the United States within two weeks of Jan. 20. This article originally appeared in .
