Colorado petition asks for TPS for Ecuadorians

DENVER, Colorado — In January, ongoing violence in Ecuador led the president there to declare a state of emergency. With roughly 3,000 Ecuadorians in Denver, the current state of the country is prompting a group here to urge the government for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and work permits. 

“The whole idea for us is that we are seeing in our history something that we have never seen before,” said Nicolás Arízaga, who moved from Ecuador to the United States 8 years ago. 

Arízaga began a change.org petition. He and about 11 others are working to garner enough petitions to take it to legislators who may be able to spur action.

“We really need a way in which to feel safe at night, to not be threatened of deportation, to be able to work with a work permit and contribute to the taxes of this government as we do already,” Arízaga said. 

They say that TPS would allow Ecuadorians currently without authorization or documents to work jobs they may be qualified for otherwise. 

“We have doctors. We have nurses. We have psychologists and architects, but because they do not have the right to work, they cannot do those jobs. They are doing low paying jobs, and of course they are not paying higher taxes as they should if they are doctors or professionals,” said Susy Osorio Kinsky, also from Ecuador. 

TPS was granted most recently to Venezuelans who arrived prior to July 31st. 

“I think it really comes from the immigration system as such. We really discriminate based on what passport you hold when you cross the border,” Arízaga said. 

They hope the benefit of such a program would also provide wider community impacts. 

“I think it is also empowering, giving them the human right to be safe. The human right to be performing to have access to good housing, to good health, and start improving, thriving,” Osorio Kinsky said. 

More from Angeline McCall:

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Next with Kyle Clark