>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ >>> GOOD DAY.

AND WELCOME TO "THE WASHINGTON REPORT" WITH CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT.

I´M STACEY PLASKETT.

AND I´M BLESSED TO SERVE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AS THE DELEGATE TO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

"THE WASHINGTON REPORT" WAS CREATED TO INFORM VIRGIN ISLANDSERS ON CURRENT FEDERAL ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY.

THE SHOW´S GUESTS RANGE FROM POLITICAL LEADERS TO COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.

THIS SHOW IS ALL ABOUT GETTING INFORMATION TO YOU.

THEREFORE, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU, PLEASE, EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS, YOUR ISSUES, THE THINGS YOU´RE INTERESTED IN TO ASK STACY AT MAIL.HOUSE.GOV TO HAVE THEM ANSWERED AND DISCUSSED ON FUTURE SHOWS.

NOW I´D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY GUEST.

THE FIRST IS CONGRESSWOMAN YVETTE CLARK, A FELLOW BROOKLYNITE WHO IS HONORED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT RAISED HERE.

SHE´S SERVED AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW YORK´S NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SINCE 2007.

SINCE BEING ELECTED, SHE´S BEEN A MEMBER OF THE BLACK HOUSE CAUCUS AND IS A MEMBER ON THE COMMITTEE OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

SHE´S ALSO BEEN THE CO-CHAIR OF THE POWERFUL ENERGY COMMITTEE IN THE LAST CONGRESS AS WELL, IN THE 116th.

REPRESENTATIVE CLARK TAKES HER PASSION FOR HER CARIBBEAN HERITAGE TO CONGRESS WHERE SHE WORKS TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY.

REPRESENTATIVE CLARK IS ALSO A MEMBER OF DELTA CIGMA THETA SORRITY INCORPORATED LIKE MYSELF.

MY SECOND GUEST IS PROFESS ERAT HOWARD UNIVERSITY, JOHN L. WOODS.

HE RECEIVED A DEGREE FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, A MASTERS DEGREE FROM NEW YORK UNIVERSITY AND A BACHELOR´S DEGREE FROM THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY.

ALSO A PARTNER WITH NS&J ADD ADVISORY GROUP.

HIS LEGAL PRACTICE INCLUDES CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, LEAD INTEGRATION HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS AND FACT FINDING MISSIONS.

AND HE SERVES AS AN ADJUDICATOR, ARBITRATOR, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, COMMISSIONER, AND MEDIATOR IN INTERNATIONAL LABOR, EMPLOYMENT, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS DISPUTES.

ON TOP OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS, HE ALSO SERVES AS THE CO-DIRECTOR OF THE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, AND AS A MEMBER OF KAPA ALPHA KHI.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, MY FRIENDS.

SINCE OUR LAST INSTALLMENT OF "THE WASHINGTON REPORT," MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED HERE IN WASHINGTON.

AND, INDEED, THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY.

WE NOW HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATION, AND THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE LED BY DEMOCRATS.

WE ALSO STILL HAVE LINGERING ISSUES WITH IMMIGRATION.

DURING THE SHOW TODAY WE´RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION ISSUES HERE IN AMERICA.

AND WE´RE GOING TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS, THE CARIBBEAN REGION, AND HOW THAT AFFECTS YOU IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT IMMIGRATION MOST OF THE TIME THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT THE BORDER, ABOUT THE BORDER TO MEXICO, TEXAS, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.

WE AREN´T REALLY TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT IMMEDIATELY IN THE CARIBBEAN.

BUT WE KNOW THAT, SUCH AS TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS, IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE THAT RELATES TO PEOPLE IN THE CARIBBEAN.

SO CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK WELCOME TO "THE WASHINGTON REPORT."

>> I´M SO HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU DELEGATE STACEY PLASKETT, CONGRESSWOMAN.

>> AND MY SISTER.

>> AND MY SISTER.

YES.

>> IT´S WONDERFUL TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK AND I SHARE A DEEP AFFECTION FOR EACH OTHER, SO THE SMILES THAT WE HAVE ARE REAL.

THIS IS MY GIRL.

THIS IS MY RIDE OR DIE RIGHT HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> BUT YOU ARE REALLY PRESSING THE ENVELOPE AND HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ISSUES OF TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS.

CAN YOU TALK TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ABOUT WHAT TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS IS AND WHY IT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO THEM.

>> SURE.

FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, AND TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS IS AN IMMIGRATION STATUS GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED TO BE MOVED OUT OF HARM´S WAY.

THERE´S JUST SOMETHING THAT IS DESIGNATED BY OUR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, OUR SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, WILL LOOK AT EVENTS, EITHER IN THE HEMISPHERE AND AROUND THE WORLD, AND WHERE WE CAN BE OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, WE OFTENTIMES OFFER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN REALLY CRISIS SITUATIONS THE ABILITY TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES UNDER A TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS.

TYPICALLY THAT CAN BE A CIVIL WAR, IT COULD BE A NATURAL DISASTER.

IT´S USUALLY, I MEAN, A HUGE CRISIS SITUATION WHERE THAT DESIGNATION IS UTILIZED.

>> SO THE ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IMMEDIATELY TO ME AND ONE THAT I KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS MAY HAVE SEEN PEOPLE RELATED TO THAT WOULD BE OUR HAITIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT STANDS OUT IN PEOPLE´S MINDS BECAUSE WE OFFERED HAITIANS TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS IN THE WAKE OF THE CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE THAT TOOK PLACE IN, I WANT TO SAY, 2009, 2010.

>> UM-HUM.

>> AND WHAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL ABOUT THAT WAS THAT, OF COURSE, GIVEN THE SITUATION IN HAITI, THE LACK OF MEDICAL FACILITIES, WE KNOW THAT SO MANY INDIVIDUALS WERE PHYSICALLY INJURED.

WE MED E VAKED THEM TO THE UNITED STATES, OFTENTIMES INDIVIDUALS CAME TO REUNITE WITH RELATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND IN THAT CASE, WE APPLIED TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

>> SO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE BROUGHT HERE FROM HAITI OR WHO CAME HERE FROM HAITI UNDER TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO MAINTAIN THAT TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS, AND WHY IS THIS POTENTIALLY AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS IS JUST THAT.

IT´S TEMPORARY.

AND IT´S TYPICALLY, IT´S NO -- NO -- THE LENGTH OF IT DOESN´T TYPICALLY GO BEYOND 18 MONTHS.

YOU CAN HAVE A SIX MONTH STAY, YOU CAN HAVE A 12-MONTH STAY, AND TYPICALLY AFTER 18 MONTHS IT´S REEVALUATED BY THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AND IF THE CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED WHERE WE CAN REPATRIATE INDIVIDUALS, THERE´S USUALLY AN EXTENSION PROCESS.

AND WE´VE BEEN EXTENDING TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO HAITIANS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

IT WASN´T JUST THE EARTHQUAKE BUT PRIOR TO THAT, REMEMBER THEY HAD CATASTROPHIC HURRICANES AND FLOODING -- >> RIGHT.

>> -- CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN THE WAKE OF THE EARTHQUAKE.

AND SO, MANY HAVE BEEN LIVING ACTUALLY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE PAST 10, 12 YEARS.

>> AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LIVING HERE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO CONTINUALLY APPLY, THEY HAVE TO PAY A SIZABLE FEE -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> -- TO REMAIN IN TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS.

AND WHAT HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON THE GROUND IN HAITI IS THAT THE REPATRIATED FUNDS, THE MONEY PEOPLE ARE MAKING BY LIVING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORKING -- BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN WORK.

>> YES.

>> -- THAT IS NOW ALMOST BAKED INTO THE ECONOMY OF HAITI.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

REMITTANCE IS A SIGNIFICANT PART, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY´RE IN U.S.

DOLLARS, RIGHT.

AND THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT LIFELINE TO THE PEOPLE OF HAITI, TO JUST BE ABLE TO SORT OF JUST MAINTAIN IN MANY REGARDS, WHETHER IT´S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, WHETHER IT´S THE HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE SORT OF ADDED BONUS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS BEING HERE HAVING WORK AUTHORIZATION IS THAT THEY WILL SEND REMITTANCES TO FAMILY MEMBERS, TO INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND IN HAITI.

>> AMAZING.

I KNOW LAST -- IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION THERE WAS SOME REAL CONCERN THAT THE TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR HAITIANS WHO WERE HERE, GUATEMALA HAS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS ON TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS WOULD BE REMOVED AND THEN ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I´VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR IS THE ABILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE, SOME TWO, THREE DECADES ALREADY, TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST THEIR STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS CAME AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE IN THE MOST PRODUCTIVE YEARS OF THEIR LIVES.

AND THE ABILITY TO BE A LIFELINE TO THOSE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES BACK HOME FOR JUST ABOUT ALL -- THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN, THOSE REMITTANCES REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND IN PLACES WHERE THERE´S POLITICAL INSTABILITY, LIKE GUATEMALA, HAITI, ALSO LOOKING AT VENEZUALA, TPS, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

I´VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR NOT ONLY PROVIDING TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS BUT KNOWING THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR DECADES NOW THAT THEY CAN GET A PATHWAY TO REGULARIZING THEIR STATUS, GETTING A GREEN CARD AND GOING ON TO BECOME CITIZENS.

>> I THINK BACK TO MY PARENTS, WHICH WAS A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION BECAUSE VIRGIN ISLANDERS WERE AMERICANS, RIGHT, BUT ON THE GROUND DURING THE DEPRESSION OF THE ´30s, ´40s AND ´50s.

MANY FAMILIES SENT THEIR OLDER SIBLINGS TO NEW YORK TO WORK AND FOR YEARS GROWING UP, I RECALL MY PARENTS WRITING MONEY ORDERS SENDING THEM IN FLIMSY PAPER, ONION-SKIN TYPE OF PAPER, SENDING MONEY, PACKAGES BACK HOME AND FAMILIES RELIED ON THAT.

>> AGAIN, I THINK THAT IS A COMMONALITY OF FOLKS FROM THE CARIBBEAN REGION, WHETHER YOU´RE A VIRGIN ISLANDER AMERICAN OR FOLKS FROM THROUGHOUT THE OTHER -- >> ALL IN THE BASIN.

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BASIN.

>> I USED TO GO DOWN TO JAMAICA.

>> YOU WERE THE PACKAGE SENT THE OTHER WAY?

>> I WAS THE PACKAGE SENT THE OTHER WAY.

BUT BEFORE I GOT THERE, THERE WAS A BARREL THAT WAS SENT DOWN TO MEET ME.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE´VE ALWAYS BEEN THAT EXTENSION TO THE COMMUNITIES FROM WHENCE OUR FAMILIES COME.

THAT BARREL WAS NOT JUST FOR ME.

IT WAS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> IT WAS.

>> SCHOOLS, SHOES, TOILETRIES, RICE THAT WAS A BIG THING.

>> RICE WAS A BIG THING?

>> THAT WAS A BIG THING.

GRANNY ALWAYS WANTED AMERICAN RICE FOR WHATEVER REASON.

>> I KNOW THAT JOHN HAS BEEN WORKING -- WE TALKED ABOUT HAITI, JOHN I KNOW YOU´VE BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH THE NATURE OF CITIZENSHIP CONFLICT IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, CONCERNING INDIVIDUALS OF HAITIAN DECENT.

JOHN, CAN YOU TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN THIS?

AND THEN ALSO EXPLAINING THE DISTINCTION BEING MADE BETWEEN JUST SEW LIE VERSUS JUST SANG NOW.

>> SURE.

BEFORE I BEGIN, IT´S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

GREAT TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

THE TWO OF YOU ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE U.S. CONGRESS, I´LL LET YOU DECIDE WHO´S THE HEART.

>> BUT BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.

A FEW YEARS AGO, COLLEAGUES FROM THEUN U.N. AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ASKED ME TO TRAVEL DOWN TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC JUST TO GIVE A GENERAL ASSESSMENT, OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUE OF DENATIONALIZATION OF BLACK DOMINICANS OF HAITIAN DECENT.

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS, THE CHILDREN OF HAITIAN MIGRANTS WHO TRAVELLED TO THE D.R.

SINCE 1929 TO SERVICE THE SUGAR CANE INDUSTRY, WHEN THEIR CHILDREN WERE BORN PRIOR TO 2013, THE LAW THAT WAS USED TO DETERMINE CITIZENSHIP WAS, IF YOU WERE BORN THERE, SIMILAR TO THE U.S., YOU WERE A CITIZEN OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

DURING 2013, SHORTLY AFTER 2013, THE INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW WAS CHANGED, CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS WERE CHANGED, MADE RETROACTIVE TO 1929 TO WHERE NOW, EFFECTIVELY, ANYONE WHO WAS BORN WHAT´S NOW REFERRED TO IN TRANSIT, MEANING A CHILD OF A MIGRANT, WAS NOW UNDER THE LAW FOR INTERPRETATION MEANING YOUR BIRTH IS DETERMINED BY THE BIRTHPLACE OF YOUR MOTHER.

SO THROUGH THAT RECONSTRUCTION, SO TO SPEAK, OF THE LAW, YOU NOW HAVE WHAT´S CALLED A STATELESS POPULATION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, CONSISTING PRIMARILY OF INDIVIDUALS OF HAITIAN DECENT.

AND THE NUMBERS RANGE, DEPENDING ON WHO YOU BELIEVE, ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO 300,000.

SO THE PROJECTIVE BEEN WORKING ON IS ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THIS RECONSTRUCTION OR CHANGE IN LAW.

AND TO ASSESS A CIRCUMSTANCE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED IN THIS STATUS.

>> I KNOW THAT SEVERAL SUMMERS AGO, RIGHT, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO WITH YOU, JOHN, AND CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK, AS WELL AS OUR GOOD BROTHER, CONGRESSWOMAN JEFFRIES WHO´S NOW CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, WE ALL WENT TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO TALK WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS WELL AS TO ACTUALLY GO TO SOME OF THESE PLACES WHERE THESE MIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE.

TO THE SUGAR PLANTATIONS, WHERE THEY ARE LIVING, AND I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY -- ON ONE INSTANCE THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE LIVING AT THE SAME TIME THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND CARE AND LOVE THAT THEY HAVE FOR EACH OTHER AND WANTING TO BE PART OF DOMINICAN SOCIETY AND THE COMPLETE INABILITY OF THEM TO NAVIGATE A WAY FORWARD BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE IN THE LAW, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION THAT´S GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO MOVE FORWARD.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT, JOHN, SOME OF THE IMPACT THAT THIS -- WHAT THIS MEANS TO A YOUNG PERSON WHO HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE OF HAITIAN DECENT WHO´S BORN IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, HAS RESIDED THERE THEIR ENTIRE LIFE, IS CONSIDERED IS NOW BY THE DOMINICAN GOVERNMENT TO BE OF HAITIAN BIRTH, WHAT ARE THE -- WHAT IS THEIR -- YOU KNOW, THEIR LEGAL STATUS, AND WHAT WILL THAT ALLOW THEM TO HAVE?

CAN THEY GO TO COLLEGE, GET SUPPORT FROM THE DOMINICAN GOVERNMENT?

DO THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO HAITI?

WILL THE HAITIAN GOVERNMENT TAKE THEM IN?

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THEM?

>> IT´S INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK TALK ABOUT TPS BECAUSE THERE ARE SIMILAR PARALLELS.

HERE ARE THE PARALLELS.

YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS, WHOSE PARENTS MIGRATED TO A PARTICULAR COUNTRY FOR WHATEVER REASON, BUT HAVE CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

THEIR CHILDREN WERE BORN WITH IT, THEIR CHILDREN WERE RAISED IN IT, THEIR CHILDREN HAD INTEGRATED INTO THE CUSTOMS, NORMS AND TRADITIONS OF THAT LOCAL SOCIETY.

LET´S BE FRANK, THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONNECTION TO HOME OR THE HOME OF THEIR PARENTS.

SO IN THE D.R.

IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING AS WE VISITED -- AGAIN, I THANK BOTH OF YOU BECAUSE YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR PARTICIPATION, RAISED THE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE AND BROUGHT A LEVEL OF LEGITIMACY TO THE ISSUE, BUT YOU HAVE THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT THERE IS NO CONNECTION TO THEIR PARENTS´ HOME COUNTRY.

THEY DON´T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AND FOR THE MOST PART, THEY´RE NOT CITIZENS THERE.

SO NOW YOU´RE IN A POSITION WHERE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IS CHALLENGED.

SO YOU´RE LITERALLY, IN THE CASE OF DOMINICANS OF HAITIAN DECENT, TRAPPED.

YOU´RE RELEGATED TO THE INDUSTRY WORKING ON THE PLANTATION, SUGAR CANE PLANTATION.

BUT THE FEAR TO MOVE AROUND IS REAL BECAUSE OF FEAR OF BEING DEPORTED AND DEPORTED WHERE.

HAITI IS NOT HOME.

HAITI DOESN´T RECOGNIZE THEM AS CITIZENS, BECAUSE YOU CAN´T HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP, AND THAW WEREN´T BORN IN HAITI, SO IT´S REALLY A LIFE OF ISOLATION, A LIFE OF THE UNKNOWN.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, A LIFE OF CONTRIBUTION THAT´S NOT BEING RESIPRY INDICATED BASED ON YOUR STATUS OR THE LACK THEREOF.

>> AMAZING.

AND THERE ARE AMAZING PARALLELS, I HADN´T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU, JOHN, IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU THINK THAT REGULAR CITIZENS IN THIS ADMINISTRATION CAN GIVE TO THIS FIGHT?

AND ALSO, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ADMINISTRATION DOING IN THE REGION TO SUPPORT SOME OF THESE CONFLICT ISSUES?

I THINK ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ST. VINCENT RIGHT NOW.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS, THERE´S A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MAY NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES, NOT JUST IN FOOD AND WATER AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT LATER ON, BUT POTENTIALLY EVEN EVACUATION AND RELOCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN BE UNITED WITH THOSE LIVING HERE, PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU SEE YOUR WORK MOVING FORWARD NOW, JOHN, AND WHAT YOU SEE THIS ADMINISTRATION OR REGULAR PEOPLE CAN DO TO SUPPORT IT, AND THEN I´LL ASK THE CONGRESSWOMAN TO CLOSE US OUT WITH ST. VINCENT AND WHAT SHE THINKS CAN BE DONE MOVING FORWARD.

>> SURE.

I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, LET´S JUST USE TPS AS AN EXAMPLE.

I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST WE HAVE TO SET A PACE AND A CONSISTENCY AT HOME.

SO THINK ABOUT IT, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION´S REASONING AND RATIONALE FOR ENDING TPS OR TERMINATING TPS, IT´S NO LONGER NEEDED.

EVERYTHING IS FINE.

RETURN HOME, THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.

HOWEVER, AS BOTH OF YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED AND DISCUSSED, IF WE JUST LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORS IN HAITI, ALTHOUGH TPS STATUS STARTED IN RESPONSE TO THE EARTHQUAKE, IT HAS TRANSITIONED TO POLITICAL UNREST, CIVIL UNREST, SO THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT HAITI IS IN NO POSITION TO CAPTURE OR RECEIVE THE INDIVIDUALS HERE, IF SUCH STATUS WAS TERMINATED.

THEN YOU TAKE THE STEPS FURTHER.

SO IF WE ESTABLISH THAT TRUMP´S INITIAL REASONING OR PUBLIC RATIONALE FOR TERMINATING THE STATUS IS FALSE, THEN WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SMOKE AND THE SMOKE IS RACIAL ANIMOUS, RIGHT?

THIS POLICY OR THIS APPROACH IN TERMINATING TPS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE AMERICA FIRST POLICY, WHICH BY ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, FROM A PRACTICAL EFFECTIVE STANDPOINT IS AN IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT´S ANTI-PEOPLE OF COLOR AS WELL AS ANTI-NONEUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

SO IF WE LOOK AT THE CON TRI BUGSS THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE MADE OVER 10 TO 20 YEARS, RECOGNIZE THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY, UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HAITI, HONDURAS, EL SALVADOR, THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED OVER $45 BILLION TO THE U.S. ECONOMY, I THINK A LEVEL OF FAIRNESS AT HOME WOULD WORK WONDERS OR RESOUND OVERSEAS.

SO IF WE USE A SIMPLE TEST THAT WE ALWAYS USE TO SUPPORT PERMANENT SI OR DETERMINE PERMANENCY, IS THE GROUP OR -- IS THE GROUP CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE?

ARE THEY LAW ABIDING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BASED ON HOW THE U.S. HAS APPROACHED, THEY´RE NOT A STRAIN ON THE SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEM.

PERMANENCY OR PATHWAY TO PERMANENCY SHOULD BE FORCED.

NOW, GOING FORWARD, IF WE HAVE THIS MODEL AT HOME, IT´S EASIER TO CHAMPION SUCH A MODEL ABROAD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK HAD TO LEAVE FOR JUST A SECOND.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT SHE AND I ARE WORKING MIGHTILY ON THE ISSUES OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES.

I´M SO GRATEFUL TO HER FOR HER SUPPORT OF THAT.

WE SEE PARALLELS.

WE´RE GOING TO BE ON TOP OF THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ARE -- THEIR ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED, THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT THEM AS OTHERS.

THAT WE ARE ALL PART OF THIS AMERICA AND WE ARE ALL -- HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, AS AMERICANS, AS THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS THE GREATNESS IN INNOVATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR RESILIENCE.

SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING AND BEING A PART OF "THE WASHINGTON REPORT."

I´M JUST SO GRATEFUL TO MY GUESTS.

MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL, GOD BLESS AND STAY V.I.

STRONG.

♫♫ >> Announcer: THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.