With a Deadline approaching in just hours, the Biden Administration announced, that it will Expand and Extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Designations for Haiti, a move that could potentially shield up to 110,000 additional Migrants who are already in the U.S.
In a Statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cited “extraordinary and temporary conditions” in Expanding and Extending Relief, including a “prolonged political crisis” following the Assassination of the Nation’s President last year. The Biden Administration’s extends access to Work Permits and Deportation relief for another 18 months, through August 2024.
By also adjusting the existing Eligibility date, another 110,000 Haitians already here as of Nov. 6th can also apply for Protections in addition to the roughly 56,000 Haitians who currently have Relief. It’s a major win for Families and Advocates like Haitian Bridge Alliance, who have been steadily leading this call for Relief. There’s no doubt this action will save lives.
“We welcome this much-needed announcement from the Biden administration,” said Haitian Bridge Alliance Executive Director Guerline Jozef in a Statement. “We rejoice and celebrate with our Haitian siblings and stand undeterred, in solidarity as we continue to work with and for the Haitian and Haitian-American communities.” Most recently, the organization led a Nov. 22 Letter supported by more than 400 Organizations urging the Biden Administration to Expand and Extend Relief by a Dec. 5th Deadline, and cited Support from a number of leading Senators. “Haiti’s TPS status is urgently warranted,” Lawmakers had written.
“We are grateful for all our partner organizations, many of whom supported the letter led by the Haitian Bridge Alliance calling for the extension and redesignation of TPS for Haiti,” the Organization continued in the Statement. “This is another example of ‘Anpil men, chay pa lou.’” It is a Haitian Creole Phase that Translates to, “many hands lighten the load.”
In the Statemen, Cameroon Advocacy Network Founding Member Taisha Saintil said the Administration “not only made the morally right decision but also the one that makes the most sense for the United States,” citing the ties that many Haitian Immigrants have in the U.S. Many have lived here for years and have U.S. Citizen Children and Family Members.
“As highlighted by a report by FWD.us, Haitians who are living in the U.S. and are currently eligible for TPS contribute $2.6 billion to our economy each year, and 81% of them are in the labor force, providing essential services at a time of worker shortages and high inflation,” Saintil said. “This redesignation of TPS allows more Haitians in the U.S. to enroll in the program and contribute their skills and talents to American communities and the American workforce. As we continue to fight with our allies to ensure the total eradication of anti-Blackness within the immigration system, we take this moment today to thank the administration for this decision.”
DHS said it “extended and redesignated Haiti for TPS after consultation with interagency partners and careful consideration of the extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti, including a prolonged political crisis; grave insecurity and gang crime that worsened a dire economic situation; a lack of access to food, water, fuel and health care during a resurgence of cholera; and the recent catastrophic earthquakes.” Signed into Law under George H.W. Bush, the FGderal Government has Discretion to Designate a Nation for TPS if conditions make it too Unsafe for Nationals to Return.
“With conditions so dire in Haiti, this announcement brings enormous relief to many community members who have survived some of the worst crises imaginable,” said Lora Adams, Co-Coordinator of the TPS-DED Administrative Advocacy Coalition. “With armed groups kidnapping Haitians, terrorizing Haiti, and committing violent crimes, it was important that the United States upheld its commitments to protect vulnerable Haitians in need of safety. We applaud the Biden administration for showing courage and making sure that the United States lives up to our best values in welcoming Haitians.”
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