Immigration

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE October 26, 2017, 12:01 EDT Extraordinary Conditions in Haiti Make Deporting Thousands from the U.S. Unsafe New Report Urges 18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians (New York, October 26, 2017)— Haiti is not currently able to safely accommodate the return of thousands of Haitians in the United States with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), according to Extraordinary Conditions: A Statutory Analysis of Haiti’s Qualifications for TPS, a report released today by the Global Justice Clinic at New York University (NYU) School of Law. The report describes extraordinary conditions that persist in Haiti—including the impact of cholera, which continues to sicken and kill Haitian people, homelessness caused by natural disasters, and a spike in extreme hunger—that prevent the country from safely welcoming the 50,000 TPS holders and their families currently living in the United States. The report comes at a critical time. The Department […]

Since the catastrophic 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the U.S. government has granted 58,000 Haitians the opportunity to live and work in the U.S. under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This could be terminated by next month. U.S. lawmakers from both parties, immigration advocates and church leaders urge the current administration to extend TPS for 18 months to allow Haitian TPS-holders to continue to live and work in the U.S. The country has been struggling to recover from several natural disasters, including the 2010 earthquake, an uncontrolled cholera epidemic and last year’s Hurricane Matthew that flattened the southern part of the country. Haiti is in no position to absorb and care for 58,000 Haitians. Read full article HERE Haitians still need protections from US Boston Globe October 12, 2017 Could the Trump administration, fresh from its disgraceful decision to revoke the program that kept young immigrants […]

As November approaches, 24,000 Haitians recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) living in Miami, FL are worried about the Department of Homeland Security’s next TPS decision. Their native country, Haiti, has reeled by a series of natural disasters, including an uncontrolled cholera epidemic that was introduced into the country by the United Nations soldiers right after the 2010 earthquake. These unfortunate events have made it difficult for them to return to Haiti.  The Miami-Dade Commissioners are strongly supporting 18-month  TPS extension and urging Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Senators Marco Rubio and Senator Bill Nelson to appeal to President Donald Trump to extend TPS for   58,000 in the United States. Read full article HERE Miami-Dade Commissioners Ask Trump Not to Deport 24,000 Haitians Isabella Vi Gomes, Miami New Times October 13, 2017 For seven years, thousands of Haitians in Miami have dodged deportation […]

On January 22, 2018, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Haitians in the U.S. will expire . Haitian TPS recipients are anxiously awaiting on the Department of Homeland Security’s decision, which is expected to be made as early as next month. The Haitian government formally wrote the  Trump Administration to request an 18-month TPS extension for those Haitian TPS-holder. Haiti has been reeled by a series of natural disasters, including the 2010 earthquake, an uncontrolled cholera oubreak introduced by the United Nations soldiers and last year Hurricane Matthew and Hurricanes Irma, Maria that destroyed crops and made life harder for famers in the northern part of country. Read full article HERE Haiti requests 18-month TPS extension from Trump administration Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald October 9, 2017 Haiti’s government has written to the Trump administration to formally ask for an 18-month extension […]

Boston, MA – On Wednesday, August 23rd the Boston City Council unanimously passed a resolution urging the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).”Centro Presente thanks City Councilor Josh Zakim for introducing this resolution and the City of Boston for its legacy of support for the immigrant community” said Patricia Montes, Executive Director of Centro Presente. “Boston has consistently shown itself to be a community that appreciates the diversity of its residents and in return immigrants such as TPS holders have helped make the town the thriving and vibrant place that it is.”In the next two years, the current Administration, through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will consider whether to extend designations of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for all countries that currently hold TPS. TPS is a form of immigration status that provides employment authorization and protection from deportation […]

In July, 3,996 migrants crossed the border from the United States to Canada seeking asylum. Although the Safe Third Country Agreement bars applicants from applying for refuge at legal checkpoints if they have come from the United States, the influx of migrants from the United States has increased. This month, an estimated 250 migrants cross the border per day. In the first two weeks of August, 3,800 migrants have been arrested crossing the border at unregulated checkpoints.  An estimated 85-89% of the asylum seekers are Haitian, choosing to flee to Canada rather than possibly face deportation from the United States, as TPS is slated to end for Haitians in January. Due to a backlog in cases, these migrants face months, possibly even years before they can make their cases for asylum-a process that is usually completed in weeks. To Learn […]