Haitian Immigration Rights
Overview
IJDH’s immigration advocacy is built on three decades of leadership in ensuring a safe haven in the U.S. for Haiti’s persecuted. We seek creation of a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program to save lives, reunite families, expedite orderly migration and speed recovery by increasing the flow of remittances to loved ones in Haiti. The Haiti Asylum Information Project (HAIP), established in 2004, has provided asylum applicants from across Haiti’s political spectrum the expert testimony and country condition information they need to present strong cases. Our Stop Deportations Now Campaign, the platform for years-long Temporary Protected Status (TPS) advocacy in Congress, the media, and the streets led to the suspension of all non-criminal deportations to Haiti in early 2009 and facilitated the immediate grant of TPS to Haitians in the United States after Haiti’s January 12, 2010 earthquake.
Expediting Haitian Family Reunification
IJDH leads nationwide advocacy urging the Obama administration to create a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program (FRPP). 106,000 Haitians are beneficiaries of family-based immigrant visa petitions which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has already approved but who remain on 2.5 to 12-year wait lists in Haiti, where many may not survive. A Cuban FRPP expedites family reunification for similarly-situated Cuban beneficiaries; IJDH has built extensive support and momentum for creation of a similar Haitian program.
Click HERE for links to letters, resolutions, editorials, reports, petitions and op-eds urging creation of a Haitian FRPP to save lives and speed Haiti’s recovery.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
On January 21, 2010, after years of IJDH advocacy and a devastating earthquake nine days earlier, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. In May, 2011, DHS extended TPS for another 18 months to January 22, 2013, and redesignated it to include Haitians who had arrived in the United States by January 12, 2011, one year after the quake. Most recently, on October 1,2012, DHS extended TPS for Haiti for another 18 months, to July 22, 2014. As always, Haitians seeking TPS protection and work authorization must apply individually, meeting eligibility requirements described by DHS’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
TPS protects most Haitians in the United States from deportation to Haiti, and IJDH works with a broad range of advocates to trouble-shoot TPS implementation issues as they arise.
Haitian Asylum Information Project (HAIP)
The Haitian Asylum Information Project (HAIP) is an online resource library for asylum applicants and their lawyers. It contains key documents, contact information, and model pleadings to facilitate the filing of successful Haitian asylum cases.
Click HERE to learn more about HAIP.
Stop Deportations Now Campaign
Click HERE to learn more about the campaign.
Take Action
Take action now for fair immigration policy toward Haitians. Make your voice heard by signing petitions, writing to or calling your representatives, and getting up-to-date information about Haitian immigration.
Hastings on the Third Anniversary of Haiti Earthquake
January 11, 2013 Contact: Lale Mamaux Phone: (202) 225-1313 www.alceehastings.house.gov Hastings on the Third Anniversary of Haiti Earthquake (Fort Lauderdale) Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) issued the following statement on the third anniversary of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010: “On January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by one of the largest earthquakes in its entire history, killing tens of thousands and causing immeasurable damage to its infrastructure. Within hours, the international community mobilized its resources and were on the ground to provide lifesaving aid to the Haitian people. Despite these laudable efforts, however, Haiti remains plagued by a stagnant economy, widespread poverty, and outbreaks of cholera. Furthermore, in the past year, a spring drought and two storms during hurricane season resulted in more than $170 million in crop losses, endangering an additional 1.5 … Continue reading
January 11, 2013: Hastings on the Third Anniversary of Haiti Earthquake
(Fort Lauderdale) Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) issued the following statement on the third anniversary of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010: “On January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by one of the largest earthquakes in its entire history, killing tens of thousands and causing immeasurable damage to its infrastructure. Within hours, the international community mobilized its resources and were on the ground to provide lifesaving aid to the Haitian people. Despite these laudable efforts, however, Haiti remains plagued by a stagnant economy, widespread poverty, and outbreaks of cholera. Furthermore, in the past year, a spring drought and two storms during hurricane season resulted in more than id=”mce_marker”70 million in crop losses, endangering an additional 1.5 million Haitians. “Natural disasters are the world’s cruelest actions in their disregard for human life, as they do not discriminate or … Continue reading
Temporary Protected Status Re-registration Period Extended for Haitian Nationals
News Release Dec. 27, 2012 Temporary Protected Status Re-registration Period Extended for Haitian Nationals WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today an extension of the re-registration period for Haitian nationals who have already been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and seek to maintain that status for an additional 18 months. Given the impact Hurricane Sandy has had on regions where Haitians reside, the re-registration period is extended through Jan. 29, 2013. Haitian TPS beneficiaries are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Under this extension, USCIS also will accept applications from eligible individuals who have already applied after the close of the re-registration period on Nov. 30, 2012 and will continue to accept applications through Jan. 29, 2013. The initial, 60-day re-registration period was established after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced … Continue reading
Hastings Renews Call for Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program
October 4, 2012 Contact: Lale Mamaux Phone: (202) 225-1313 www.alceehastings.house.gov (Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) sent the following letter to President Obama urging the administration to create a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program. This program would allow Haitians with approved family based visa petitions to come to the United States while awaiting their visas. (Please find below and attached a copy of the letter). The Honorable Barack Obama President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, In a letter dated July 10, 2012, I urged you to create a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program that would allow Haitians with approved family based visa petitions to come to the United States while they await their visas. Since that time, your administration has renewed Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, … Continue reading
Haitians in Miami urge Obama to let family come to U.S.on parole visa program-With the president in town, Haitian advocates took the opportunity to speak up on an immigration issue that has preoccupied the group since the earthquake ravaged the country in 2010.
By Daniela Guzman, June 26.2012, The Miami Herald Haitian advocates in Miami made an emotional appeal to President Barack Obama on Tuesday, hours before he came to town for a campaign event. At the center for Haitian Women of Miami, leaders urged Obama to allow family members to come to the United States for a better life. A group of religious, political and business leaders pressed the issue at the FANM Center, 181 NE 82nd St., an issue they say has been put on the back burner since an earthquake ravaged Haiti more than two years ago. At the time, Obama pledged to help Haitians get back on their feet. Miami leaders say the answer is opening the doors to people who continue to live in disaster areas who want to reunite with relatives in the U.S. The Haitian Family … Continue reading
Haitians displaced by quake will be allowed to stay in U.S. an extra 18 months
By Jacqueline Charles, The Miami Herald Sep 24, 2012. About 60,000 Haitians were granted temporary protected status after Haiti’s January 2010 quake. Advocates say conditions are still too precarious for their return. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has extended Temporary Protected Status for Haitians living in the United States for another 18 months, beginning Jan. 22, 2013. The Department of Homeland Security is expected to publish a notice in the Federal Register this week announcing the decision, which will allow about 60,000 Haitian citizens to remain in the United States until July 2014. Haitians will have 60 days to re-register from the day that the notice is published. Haitian advocates and immigration activists welcomed the news and said they were grateful, but complained that a double standard and discrimination against Haitians continue. “We had no doubts that TPS would be extended … Continue reading