The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday that it would cancel Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 2500 Nicaraguan migrants, who now have 14 months to leave the U.S. A decision on 57,000 Honduran asylum-seekers is pending.

TPS allowed around 300,000 Central Americans and Haitians to live in the U.S. for decades. Not included in the announcement are about 200,000 Salvadorans and 50,000 Haitians, Their TPS status will expire early next year. 

Alianza Americas, a network of nearly 50 organizations that serves Latin American and Caribbean immigrants, believes revoking TPS would not only do catastrophic damage to Latin American and Haitian families, but also create massive instability in the region. The group is sponsoring a speaking tour for Neesa Medina, an internationally-known activist with the Center for Women’s Rights in Honduras. 

Medina is in the U.S. to draw attention to violence against women across the Americas and shares why she believes gender-based violence, already a major issue for immigrant women and children, would skyrocket without TPS protections. Joining Medina is Christina Garcia, mobilization coordinator for Alianza Americas. They’re both asking Americans to contact their elected officials in support of continuing TPS.