U.S. Places Hold on Deportations to Haiti, the Fight for TPS Continues
The Orlando Sentinel reported today that in the wake of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a directive to temporarily stop all deportations to Haiti. This was a joint decision made by the DHS Secretary Napolitano and Assistant Secretary Morton of the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (USICE).
This decision does not grant Haitian immigrants Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in any way. What the decision means is that the USICE will not carry out the deportation of Haitians for the time being.
TPS has been granted to nationals of Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador due to natural disasters that occured in the late 90’s.
TPS for Haitians has been a top priority for South Florida advocates on behalf of the Haitian community for years. Now in light of this sad turn of events, this natural disaster would clearly qualify them for TPS which would allow them to temporarily stay and work in the United States legally.
Representatives Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen whose constituents are Haitian-Americans in South Florida have called on the President to grant TPS to Haitian nationals who are currently in the United States.
The U.S. government has made a good start in halting the deportation of Haitians. The next step would be for them to be granted TPS.
Related posts:
Earthquake in Haiti, “Would TPS be in the Midst?”
Haitian-Americans Exerting Their Political Muscle
Haitians Battling for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
