The Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee is spearheading an initiative to assist Nepali nationals seeking Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

On April 27, 2015, a massive earthquake struck Nepal, resulting in the deaths of more than 10,000 people and leaving the country in a state of disaster from which it continues to struggle to emerge today.  In an effort to provide safety and assistance to Nepali citizens currently residing in the United States, on June 24, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security designated Nepal for Temporary Protected Status, which allows eligible Nepalis to stay in the United States, legally work and attend school until they can safely return home. The designation is effective between June 24th, 2015 and December 24th, 2016. During that time, eligible Nepali nationals will not be removed from the United States. The 180-day registration period runs from June 24th, 2015 through December 21, 2015. The Washington Lawyers’ Committee, in collaboration with other community organizations has launched this initiative to assist in TPS filing and pairing qualified TPS applicants with pro bono representation. As part of this effort, The Washington Lawyers’ Committee is co-hosting a workshop with Adhikaar on Sunday July 12th at 2pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Room A-5 in Washington, DC. Additional questions about the project can be directed to WLC Director of Litigation, Matthew Handley at [email protected].