WASHINGTON, CMC—Republican Michael V. Lawler has written to President Donald Trump urging his Administration to maintain Haitian residents’ Non permanent Protected Standing (TPS) in place.
“For years, the safety atmosphere in Haiti has been spiraling uncontrolled, leaving the nation unstable and harmful for communities nonetheless within the nation,’ he wrote, including, “With such a vital state of affairs ongoing in Haiti, it’s paramount that you simply preserve the present TPS designation for Haiti and prolong this designation within the coming months.”
Michael V. Lawler
The US authorities introduced final Thursday that it’s going to finish the TPS for 500,000 Haitians residing within the nation in August.
The Division of Homeland Safety stated TPS has been held by Haitians since 2010 and can be ending on 3 August 2025. This implies they may lose their work permits and might be eligible for deportation
“For many years, the TPS system has been exploited and abused,” the Division for Homeland Safety stated in a press release, including the system has allowed Haitians who “entered the US illegally to qualify for legally protected standing.”
In his letter, Lawler stated that resulting from Haiti’s shut proximity to the USA and our lengthy historical past with the nation, there has all the time been a powerful curiosity within the well-being of the Haitian folks.
The Republican legislator stated that based on the US Census Bureau, over a million people of Haitian descent dwell in the USA. He represents one of many largest Haitian diaspora constituencies and “can say with expertise that they’re good individuals who care deeply about their communities right here within the US and again in Haiti.
” Since August 2021, Haitian residents current within the S have been eligible for TPS, with it at present set to run out in February 2026. TPS permits nationals of a international nation already current within the US to slay within the nation underneath short-term standing if their house nation is experiencing ongoing armed battle or one other extraordinary state of affairs that might forestall nation a ls from safely returning.”
Lawler stated that whereas Democratic administrations have abused particular different TPS designations previously, “Haiti’s designation is warranted.
“The 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise plunged the nation into unprecedented instability, and situations have solely worsened since then. A brand new authorities was by no means actually shaped, and now armed gangs largely management the nation, Gang violence. Sexual violence. It has turn out to be a extreme disaster, and the humanitarian state of affairs has deteriorated. Citizen safety has confirmed non-existent.”
The Republican stated sadly, the Biden administration didn’t prioritize the return of legislation and order to Haiti and didn’t make any significant change within the nation.
“Relatively, Port-au-Prince solely turned extra unstable and unsafe for the Haitian folks. The earlier Administration’s lack of dedication to reaching a brighter future for Haiti has had profound implications. Situations in Haiti are as harmful as ever and proceed to accentuate each day.
” Till the change is made, Haiti continues to fulfill the factors for TPS. I urge you to increase the designation as August approaches. I stay up for working with you on addressing this situation and others going through Haiti and the Haitian diaspora within the US,” Lawler wrote.