The Nicaraguan diaspora in the United States, which brings together religious leaders, activists, political prisoners, exiles and rights defenders, promotes a campaign in which it asks the Biden-Harris administration as well as the immigration authorities in the North American nation to grant a new Temporary Protection Status, known as TPS for its acronym in English, to Nicaraguans who reside or are requesting international protection in that country.
The initiative urges citizens living in the United States to call the White House to reiterate the call for that TPS to be granted, which would allow beneficiaries to obtain permission to live and work in that country without any obstacles.
Related news: 222 former political prisoners have completed 90 days since they were exiled by order of Ortega
In a few days, on May 11, Title 42 will expire, a measure adopted by the United States during the government of Donald Trump to control the irregular entry of citizens into that country. The sanitary norm was invoked to expel the majority of migrants who enter the border with Mexico without a visa or necessary documentation.
This May 9, the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) of Nicaragua, “definitely” suspended the lawyer Yonarqui Martínez from the exercise of her profession, who has been one of the defenders of political prisoners.
“Ms. Yonarqui de los Ángeles Martínez García is sanctioned with definitive suspension from the profession of lawyer and notary public, as of the notification of this sentence,” reads the circular issued by the justice of the Ortega regime.
Likewise, it is detailed that the defender is stripped of her title as lawyer and notary public. Yonarqui Martínez is one of the most prominent lawyers for political prisoners in the country. Since the beginning of the social crisis in Nicaragua, she led the defense of opponents in prison until she was released by court ruling or by the controversial Amnesty Law. She has received death threats, sieges, persecution, highway attacks, and shots fired at her home.
90 days have passed since that Thursday, February 9, when Nicaragua woke up with the news that 222 political prisoners had been sent on a direct flight to the United States.
The group included priests, deacons, journalists, human rights defenders, presidential candidates, and even former state workers, whom Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo had imprisoned, accusing them of treason, undermining national integrity, or spreading false news.
From that day life changed for them. Although they regained relative freedom, they arrived in a nation with English as the official language, many without a place to live, far from family and without a job. In addition, they carried illnesses as a result of the arbitrary imprisonment to which they were subjected.
Related news: Supreme Court of Justice “definitely” suspends lawyer Yonarqui Martínez from her profession
The Ministry of Health reported 12 new cases of COVID-19 in Nicaragua, three more compared to the previous week and on days when the World Health Organization lifted the alert for the pandemic, considering it no longer a global risk.
The Nicaraguan Health authorities have only recognized 15,713 infections since the first case in the country was known in March 2020. Data from independent organizations assure that the number of infected people exceeded 32,000.
