Displaced Haitians

UPDATE: On July 12, 2010, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an extention to the registration period for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Haiti. Initially, the 180-day registration period for nationals of Haiti was from Jan. 21 through July 20, 2010. This registration period is now being extended through Jan. 18, 2011. For USCIS announcement, please click here.

On Friday, January 15, 2010, the Obama Administration granted Temporary Protected Status to Haitians who were present in the United States as of January 12, 2010.  For the full remarks from Secretary Napolitano, please click here.

On January 12, 2010, a violent 7.0 earthquake shook Haiti and brought severe damage and destruction to the nation.  Already overwhelmed by the storms of 2008 and the associated devastating floods which ruined crops, Haiti was in need of strong international assistance.  Refugee Council USA continued to advocate for Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.  See RCUSA letter to Secretary Clinton and Secretary Napolitano on TPS for Haitians here.

In September 2008 Haiti suffered massive destruction wrought by four deadly storms: Tropical Storms Fay and Hanna and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.  The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that 800,000 Haitians are in need of emergency humanitarian assistance.  The devastating storm damage has not only left many of Haiti’s 8.5 million citizens homeless – without food, water, shelter, or healthcare – but has also compounded the food shortage crisis that developed during the food riots in April.  Indeed the Artibonite “breadbasket” region of Haiti has been flooded by storm waters, destroying an estimated 180 million dollars in crops.

Deporting thousands of Haitians under the current circumstances will further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, and may also increase the stress on Haiti’s already fragile economy.  Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will allow the Haitian government to invest its limited resources into rebuilding damaged infrastructure and offering emergency relief to its suffering citizens. 

TPS has been granted in the past to nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua after Hurricane Mitch in 1998, and to Salvadorans after an earthquake in 2001. TPS may be granted when any of the following conditions are met: there is ongoing armed conflict that poses a serious threat to personal safety; it is requested by a foreign state that temporarily cannot handle the return of nationals due to an environmental disaster; or when extraordinary and temporary conditions in a foreign state exist which prevent aliens from returning.  Haiti’s current circumstances fall well within the criteria for granting TPS.