Immigration

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today with 24 Senate colleagues wrote to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security urging Secretaries Rex Tillerson and John Kelly to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of nationals currently residing in the United States. The TPS designation is a temporary benefit aimed at providing relief to foreign nationals in the United States and countries devastated by natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary conditions. Currently, there are over 320,000 TPS holders in the United States from 10 countries with deadlines set to expire at the end of the year and beginning of 2018. These countries include El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. “We urge you to review each of the designations closely, taking into […]

The Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told the Congressional Hispanic Caucus that the fate of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) “will likely be determined by the courts.” He also indicated that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals “will likely end.” Last May, Mr. Kelly extended TPS for Haitians for six months instead of the usual 18 months.  For more information on TPS extension, please visit our WEBSITE Click HERE to read the full article. Top Trump official warns special immigration status may end soon for a million people FRANCO ORDOÑEZ, McClatchyDC July 12, 2017 WASHINGTON —President Donald Trump’s top immigration official warned Hispanic members of Congress Wednesday that over a million people living in the United States under a special protected status could soon be placed in line for deportation. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus that […]

The Department of Homeland Security  (DHS) extended Temporary Protected Status  (TPS) for Haitian nationals for six months instead of the usual 18 months.  Haitian activists, U.S. lawmakers and immigration advocates urge  Secretary John Kelly to extend TPS for at least 18 months for Haiti. For more information on TPS extension, please visit our website Read Full Article HERE Haitian activists urge U.S. not to deport quake refugees Sebastian Malo, Reuters May 10, 2017 A Boston-based activist group, the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), said it had been successful in lobbying lawmakers for their support. So far, the group had prompted some 90 members of Congress to publicly voice their support for the preservation of Haiti’s status, said Steve Forester, a spokesman for IJDH. “If there was ever a classic textbook case for TPS, it is Haiti,” he told […]

After Barack Obama tightened his stance on immigration, many Haitian migrants began to settle in Mexico, rather than attempt to cross the border. For as long as the the Trump administration remains in power, these Haitians have little hope of entering the United Statets safely. As a result, more than 4,000 Haitians have been stranded in Mexico—2,000 of them in Tijuana, where they’ve set up their own “Little Haiti”. Visit our immigration page for more information about Haitian immigrants and TPS extension. Part of the article is provided below. Read the full article HERE Stranded Haitians settling in Tijuana Mexico News Daily, 10 July 2017 It’s a long way from Port-au-Prince to Tijuana but little by little thousands of Haitian migrants stranded in the city are beginning to feel more at home as they put down roots and even influence the local population with […]

Haiti isn’t the only country facing a potential termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the coming months— TPS-holders from Central American countries such as Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua are also at risk of losing their TPS designations. Central American and Haitians activists have banded together to advocate for TPS extension. They’ve scheduled meetings with the presidents of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala in hopes of gaining their support in the fight for TPS extension. Visit our immigration page for more information about TPS extension. Read the full article HERE Haitians, Central Americans unite to fight deportation orders By Glenn Garvin, Miami Herald June 7, 2017 Banding together for the first time, activists from Haiti and three Central American countries announced Wednesday they’ll meet next week with the presidents of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to try to enlist their […]

On May 22, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  Secretary John Kelly extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals for only six months instead of the usual 18 months. This was a disappointing decision and U.S. lawmakers, Haitian American community, immigration advocates and faith-based groups were dissatisfied and vowed to stay mobilized. DHS’ decision reflects poorly Haiti’s current conditions. It also fails to take into account the Haitian government’s direct request  to redesignate “TPS for at least 18 months” for Haiti. While the DHS’ decision is not a total victory, it does reflect the power of the advocacy groups such as Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) whose work on that front has broadened support for TPS extension. Visit our immigration page for more information about TPS extension. Read the full article HERE How Mobilization Won a Partial […]