Thousands of Chileans in the United States are caught between a rock and a hard place: their towns were hard hit by a devastating earthquake and at the same time, they run the risk of being deported because they are undocumented. Others want to be able to visit Chile but are in fear of not being allowed to return to the United States. Under these emergency circumstances, we urge the Obama administration to grant Temporary Protective Status to Chile, upon that nation's petition.

The massive 8.8 Richter earthquake in Chile and the after-shocks that have followed have created a crisis for both Chileans at home and their relatives living in the United States. The death toll in Chile is in the hundreds, the homes of 500,000 families have been destroyed, leaving a huge number of people homeless, and the damage to infrastructure is in the billions.

The earthquake and its aftermath fall under the list of conditions for issuing Temporary Protected Status (TPS). These conditions include an environmental disaster. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chief Janet Napolitano can designate a foreign country for TPS because of conditions that temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely. TPS can also be designated in situations where a foreign country is not able to adequately handle the return of its nationals. TPS was issued as recently as last month to Haitian nationals in the United States, following the earthquake in the Caribbean nation.

TPS is a humanitarian relief measure that would address the predicament of some Chileans here, many of who come from areas that could least withstand the damage and costs of the earthquake. Immigrants who apply for this status have to meet certain requirements, among them that they have not been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors in the United States. An immigrant who is granted TPS cannot be removed from the United States or detained by DHS. TPS also allows them to obtain employment authorization and apply for permission to travel.