By Nelson A. King
NEW YORK, November 18, CMC – New York Attorney General, Letitia James, is urging the Donald Trump administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Jamaicans in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The Category 5 storm struck the Caribbean island on October 28, causing severe damage and destruction, and killing at least 45 people in its path.
In a letter to US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, James is urging Washington to immediately grant TPS for Jamaicans.
“Hurricane Melissa’s impact on Jamaica was catastrophic. Melissa was the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record, and, on October 28, 2025, it hit Jamaica at its peak as a Category 5 hurricane. Dozens of Jamaicans were killed, and others remain missing.
“The storm displaced tens of thousands of Jamaican households and caused widespread damage to the country’s infrastructure, including its water, transportation, and power systems. Recovery will likely take months, if not years,” James wrote in the letter.
She said that the US Congress has given the executive branch “the power to grant humanitarian relief under circumstances such as these” and that under the Immigration and Nationality Act, “the federal government may grant TPS to Jamaicans presently in the United States where, as here, ‘extraordinary and temporary conditions’ in Jamaica prevent its citizens from safely returning.
“TPS is a critical humanitarian tool to ensure that our nation’s immigration policy remains consistent with our long history of providing safe haven to those who flee armed conflict, natural disasters, and repressive conditions.
“In this moment, it is incumbent upon the United States to honor our humanitarian commitments. We implore the administration to grant TPS for Jamaica without further delay,” the letter adds.
James later told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that 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.
“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.”
The New York Attorney General said TPS allows eligible individuals in the United States, who are unable to return to their home countries, to safely live and work in the US with legal status.
She noted that the US has previously granted TPS to immigrants from countries such as Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal following similar natural disasters.
Queens, New York Borough President, Donovan Richards, Jr. said that, as the son of a Jamaican father, “the images coming out of Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa’s historic rampage across the island break my heart.
“Countless families have been left without homes and livelihoods, and the United States must do all it can to support our Caribbean brothers and sisters in their time of need. Now is not the time to play politics.
“The Trump administration must immediately extend Temporary Protected Status to Jamaicans as they begin the arduous, painstaking work of rebuilding their lives and their nation.And we, as Americans, must do all we can on every level of government to ensure that they are not alone in this effort,” Richards said.
New York State Assemblyman Brian Cunningham, the son of Jamaican immigrants, said that extending TPS to Jamaicans is “a moral imperative that reflects our nation’s values.
“It will allow Jamaicans already here to remain with dignity, security, and the ability to support their families as their homeland begins the long road to recovery,” said the representative for the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn.
New York City Council Majority Whip, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, said she stood with Attorney General James in calling for TPS for Jamaicans.
“The devastation left behind by Hurricane Melissa is unimaginable,” said Brooks-Powers, who represents the 31st City Council District in Queens.
“Extending TPS is not only the right thing to do, it is a critical measure that honors our city’s deep ties to Jamaica and our shared responsibility to protect those seeking safety and stability in this moment of crisis,” she added.
New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the Haitian-American chair of the Brooklyn, New York Democratic Party, thanked James for “standing up for our Jamaican communities.
“Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica this past October, leaving thousands of families without basic necessities like electricity, clean water, and, in many cases, causing the loss of loved ones,” said the daughter of Haitian immigrants, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn.
“It is not safe for Jamaicans currently in the United States to return home, and extending Temporary Protected Status will ensure they can remain here legally while their families and communities recover.
“I stand with Attorney General James and urge the federal government to act swiftly to protect these vulnerable communities.”
Last week, Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke led 43 of her colleagues in writing a letter to Noem urging Trump to immediately designate TPS for Jamaicans.
Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn. She also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).
“Jamaica is currently confronting widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. The storm has left countless residents without homes, electricity, clean water, or access to medical care. Roads and vital infrastructure have been destroyed, communities are struggling to recover, and the Government of Jamaica faces immense challenges in restoring essential services,” the letter states.
Caribbean immigration advocates in New York have also urged Trump to protect Jamaicans in New York by granting them TPS.
CMC/nk/ir/2025