The Orlando Sentinel reported today that earlier this month Mackenson Luberice and James Dorinville, survivors of the January 12th earthquake that ravaged their native Haiti and were brought to the U.S. as part of a rescue mission, were released from U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (USICE) custody.
In the days following the earthquake, the U.S. government announced a stop on all deportations to Haiti until such time that the U.S. could determine that Haiti had recovered and enough infrastructure was in place to receive the return of its nationals.
The two men were released under USICE orders of supervision. They are required to check as instructed with USICE officials. The problem these men have is that they are ineligible to apply for work authorization cards because the immigration law doesn’t contain a provision that allows individuals with supervision orders to obtain work authorization.
The men do not qualify for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) because they entered the U.S. after January 12, 2010. TPS benefits are for Haitian nationals who were in the U.S. prior to that date.
Furthermore, the men have said that the supervision orders they were issued, although they allow them their freedom, can be rescinded at the will of the USICE.
These men have no way of earning a living and, have to live under a constant threat of immediate deportation.
Related posts:
Haitians Can Now Apply for TPS
USCIS Calling on Haitians to Come Forward and Apply for TPS
