NILC Statement on the Redesignation of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2021

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 214-415-4396
Juan Gastelum, 213-375-3149

NILC Statement on the Redesignation of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Saturday announced the redesignation of Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months.

Haitian nationals in the United States have been eligible since 2010 for temporary protection that has allowed them to live and work here, after an earthquake devastated the country. Haiti continues to experience political and humanitarian crises exacerbated most recently by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 100,000 Haitian nationals who were in the U.S. as of May 21, 2021, qualify for protection under the new redesignation.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement:

“We applaud the long overdue decision by the administration to redesignate Haiti for TPS and commend President Biden for heeding the repeated calls to follow through on his campaign promise to protect Haitian communities with longstanding ties here who have built their lives in the U.S. This announcement is welcome relief for more than 100,000 Haitians who have been living with great uncertainty. It is a testament to countless hours of organizing and advocacy by Black immigrant leaders and their communities, who have led this fight, and an administration that is listening to the needs and dreams of diverse immigrant communities.

“While we celebrate this important victory, there is still a lot of work to do to address policies that disproportionately harm Black immigrants. Many Black-majority countries — such as Mauritania, Cameroon, St. Vincent, and the Bahamas — continue to await a decision on TPS designation, and thousands of people continue to be expelled and denied due process and the legal right to claim asylum under the administration’s ongoing use of Title 42. This includes approximately 2,000 Haitians who were wrongfully sent back to the same deadly conditions that warranted the redesignation of TPS for Haiti.

“We urge President Biden and Congress to address longstanding inequities in our immigration system and commit to permanent solutions. Congress must move quickly to pass a pathway to U.S. citizenship for people with TPS, immigrant youth, essential workers, and ultimately all immigrants who call the U.S. home.”

###