Meet Nery Martinez, a Culinary Unin member, Bar Apprenticea at Caesars Palace and a TPS holder for 17 years. "I was born in El Salvador. In 1995, I came to the United States because there was a civil war. I was granted political asylum when I arrived in the U.S. I later qualified for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) because there was a huge earthquake in El Salvador and I wasn’t able to return. When I arrived in the USA. I started working in construction, gardening, as a dishwasher, cook, and busser - now I work as a bar apprentice at the Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. My contributions to the United States and Nevada are not temporary. I pay into social security benefits, pay taxes, and provide for my family. I have two children that are U.S. Citizens and a wife who also has TPS. If my TPS were to expire, my kids would be the first ones to be affected. I would not be able to provide economic support for my kids to go to school. We would be forced to leave the only country we know. If I were to get deported, it would be like if someone came into my home and just kicked me out. I ask politicians in Nevada to support our cause, I ask to be allowed to remain legally in the country I’ve known for most of my life. I hope casino companies will stand up for their TPS employees who work hard every day and will not be silent while we are at risk. Nevada is our home and we are here to stay." ----------------------------------- #LasVegas #Vegas #VegasStrip #LasVegasStrip #NV #Nevada #UniteHere #Union #Unions #Immigration #Inmigracion #Undocumented #UndocumentedAndUnafraid #Immigrants #Inmigrante #TPS #CleanDREAMAct #AmericanPromiseAct #ImmigrantsWelcome #CulinaryUnion #Local226 #1u #Solidarity #HereToStay #KeepFamiliesTogether #DACA #DefendDACA #NotOneMore #Not1More (at Culinary Workers Union Local 226)
