TPS Supporters Launch Nationwide ‘La Libertad’ Bus Campaign From Pasadena

The bus “La Libertad” is parked at the Richard H. Chambers United States of Appeals building in Pasadena during a press conference to launch the TPS bus tour that will visit 54 cities in 32 states in response to the 9th district court decision, on Monday, September 21, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Members of TPS pack the “La Libertad” bus as it gets ready for the TPS bus tour that will visit 54 cities in 32 states in response to the 9th district court decision, at the Richard H. Chambers United States of Appeals building in Pasadena, on Monday, September 21, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Families from the National TPS Alliance protest the recent the 9th district court decision at the Richard H. Chambers United States of Appeals building in Pasadena, on Monday, September 21, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Ahilan Arulanantham the senior Council for ACLU Southern California and the attorney for TPS, gives his support during a rally protesting the recent the 9th district court decision at the Richard H. Chambers United States of Appeals building in Pasadena, on Monday, September 21, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Supporters of the National TPS Alliance protest the recent the 9th district court decision at the Richard H. Chambers United States of Appeals building in Pasadena, on Monday, September 21, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Dozens of supporters gathered Monday morning at the U.S. Court of Appeals in Pasadena to send off TPS (Temporary Protective Status) holders, who planned to caravan through historic spaces in Los Angeles before its bus, “La Libertad,” departed for San Francisco.

The caravan is in response to the recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the Ramos v. Nielsen lawsuit over temporary protective status.

The decision will allow the Trump administration to move forward with efforts to potentially deport over 250,000 citizen children, according to National TPS Alliance representatives. Most TPS beneficiaries have until March 5, 2021 to begin repatriation, with the exception of Salvadorans, who have until November 2021.

Twenty riders on the “La Libertad” bus will ride across the nation from Sept. 21 to Nov. 13. The journey will cover 54 cities in 20 states, ending in Washington D.C.

“This is our journey on the road to justice, and we have three goals,” Pablo Alvarado, of the Pasadena office of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, said Monday. “The first is that after two decades of working hard, these TPS holders deserve permanent residency status. The second is that anyone who is able in this country needs to vote on Nov. 3. Don’t stay home.”

Finally, said Alvarado, “The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting low-income workers and people of color disproportionately, and that needs to change.”

The riders and supporters are a coalition of activists from groups that include: the Ramos v Nielsen plaintiffs; Ahilan Arulanantham, Legal Defense Representative with the ACLU; the National TPS Alliance; the Central American Resource Center of Los Angeles; the National Day Laborer Organizing Network; the Haitian Bridge Alliance; the AFL CIO; the Teamsters; and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy.