“Current Conditions in Haiti Are a Textbook Example of Why TPS Was Created in the First Place.” – America’s Voice
Washington, DC – Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a renewable relief program that allows individuals to work in the United States and provides protection from deportation. It is often the only way in which many people, who have no path to legal status, permanent or temporary, can live with dignity. Thousands of Haitians are currently protected by TPS, but the program faces a December 5 deadline for the Biden administration to make clear if it is extending the program for those who are currently eligible, and equally important, if the United States will redesignate TPS for thousands of Haitians who arrived too late to qualify for the current designation.
At this moment, the humanitarian conditions have deteriorated significantly in Haiti, and many have been forced to seek safety, survival, and refuge outside of the country. Of those already in the U.S., many are undocumented and potentially deportable.
TPS was created by Congress precisely to address this exact scenario, one where deporting people back to a country already in chaos would further destabilize matters and put these individuals at immediate risk of violence and/or deprivation. Extending and redesignating TPS for Haitians will both protect the individuals who are eligible, but also promote much needed stability on the ground, which is clearly in our national interest.
This is not lost on Capitol Hill. An article published this morning in The Hill, “House Democrats call on Biden administration to renew Haitian migrant protections,” summarizes the push by key Democrats:
“In a letter led by Democratic Reps. Cori Bush (Mo.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), and Mondaire Jones (N.Y.), the lawmakers asked Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
Under TPS, foreign nationals of a country undergoing a man-made or natural disaster are allowed to live and work in the United States as long as their country’s designation is active.
‘As Haitians face an unprecedented crisis in their home country, we strongly urge the Administration to extend the 2021 designation and redesignate Haiti for TPS, swiftly release the Federal Register Notice, and provide a minimum 180-day registration period for both current TPS holders and new beneficiaries under redesignation,’ wrote the lawmakers.
The Democrats’ requests mirror those of a coalition of more than 400 pro-immigrant and Haitian advocacy groups, who last month called on the Biden administration to revamp TPS for the Caribbean nation.”
This afternoon, Senator Chuck Schumer and Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, will join Haitian American leaders on a press call to further press the Biden Administration to extend and redesignate TPS for Haitians. For any interested media members, the details to join the call are listed below:
Dial: 1-800-225-9448 (Outside U.S., dial: 1-203-518-9708)
Conference ID: HAITI
According to Douglas Rivlin, Director of Communication for America’s Voice:
“Conditions on the ground in Haiti have deteriorated to such an extent that the Biden Administration should have zero hesitation in not only extending TPS protections for those currently eligible but redesignating the program to protect as many Haitians in the U.S. as possible. The current conditions in Haiti are a textbook example of why TPS was created in the first place.
The Biden administration has previously decided to deport Haitians back to the chaos and lawlessness of the country and this is one of the bleakest decisions this President has ever made. Now, the Biden Administration has an opportunity and responsibility to chart a different course. Extending TPS will advance U.S. interests and help stabilize Haiti. It’s the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do and they should extend and redesignate protections without delay.”
