NEW YORK, CMC—Caribbean American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke and immigration advocates in New York on Friday welcomed the Biden administration’s 18-month extension and redesignation of Haiti for Short-term Protected Standing (TPS).
On Friday, United States Secretary of Homeland Safety Alejandro N. Mayorkas introduced the extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS from Aug. 4, 2024, to Feb. 3, 2026, “as a result of extraordinary and short-term situations in Haiti.”
“The administration’s motion to redesignate and prolong Short-term Protected Standing for Haitians residing in our nation couldn’t come at a extra pivotal second,” Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, instructed the Caribbean Media Company (CMC). “For years, our cherished Caribbean ally has remained within the grips of a devastating and harmful sequence of political, financial, and violent crises.
“It could be unconscionable for the US to have returned harmless households to the dire and harmful scenario that Haiti is presently confronting,” added the consultant for the predominantly Caribbean ninth Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York. “Fortunately, as we speak’s choice will present an estimated 309,000 Haitian nationals the protection and safety they deserve whereas their nation works to beat its ongoing struggles.
“I’m grateful to Secretary Mayorkas for each his dedication to defending susceptible communities from tragic human rights abuses and his devotion to upholding our foundational precept that this nation should stay a sanctuary for these looking for reduction and refuge from persecution,” Clarke continued. “America owes a debt to Haiti – and this obligatory choice represents however one step within the lengthy street to repaying it.”
Murad Awawdeh – president and chief government officer of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella coverage and advocacy group that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights teams all through New York – additionally instructed CMC that the extension and redesignation of TPS for Haiti is “an important step to make sure that Haitian New Yorkers can preserve the protection and safety they deserve, as their residence nation situations stay unstable.”
Awawdeh famous that New York Metropolis has one of many largest concentrations of Haitians in the US and one of many oldest established Haitian communities within the nation.
“All through the state, New York has gained new neighbors and group members from Haiti,” he mentioned.
However whereas he applauded the Biden administration for “recognizing the urgency of the scenario on the bottom in Haiti,” he urged management within the US Congress and the White Home to “take obligatory motion and set up a everlasting pathway to citizenship for Haitian People and so many others who stay with the uncertainty of what the long run will deliver after they solely have short-term reduction.”
After session with interagency companions, Mayorkas mentioned he decided on Jun. 3, 2024, that an 18-month extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS is “warranted as a result of situations that assist Haiti’s designation are ongoing and that doing so was not opposite to the nationwide curiosity of the US.
“A number of areas in Haiti proceed to face violence or insecurity, and lots of have restricted entry to security, well being care, meals, and water,” he mentioned. “Haiti is especially vulnerable to flooding and mudslides and sometimes experiences important injury as a result of storms, flooding, and earthquakes. These overlapping humanitarian challenges have resulted in ongoing pressing humanitarian wants.
“We’re offering this humanitarian reduction to Haitians already current in the US given the situations that existed of their residence nation as of Jun. 3, 2024,” Mayorkas added. “In doing so, we’re realizing the core goal of the TPS legislation and our obligation to satisfy it.”
He mentioned the redesignation of Haiti for TPS permits an estimated 309,000 further Haitian nationals (or people having no nationality who final habitually resided in Haiti) to file preliminary purposes for TPS if they’re in any other case eligible and in the event that they established residence in the US on or earlier than Jun. 3, 2024, and have continued to reside in the US since then (“steady residence”).
Mayorkas mentioned eligible people who shouldn’t have TPS could submit an preliminary Type I-821, Utility for Short-term Protected Standing, throughout the preliminary registration interval from July 1, 2024, by means of Feb. 3, 2026.
He mentioned candidates may additionally apply for TPS-related Employment Authorization Paperwork (EAD) and journey authorization.
Mayorkas mentioned candidates can request an EAD by submitting a accomplished Type I-765, Utility for Employment Authorization, with their Type I-821 or individually later.
He mentioned Haitians who weren’t residing in the US on or earlier than June 3, 2024, aren’t eligible for such safety and can face removing to Haiti if they don’t set up a authorized foundation to remain.
Mayorkas mentioned extending TPS for Haiti permits present beneficiaries to retain TPS by means of Feb. 3, 2026, in the event that they proceed to satisfy TPS eligibility necessities.
“Present beneficiaries below TPS for Haiti should re-register promptly throughout the 60-day re-registration interval from July 1, 2024, by means of Aug. 30, 2024, to make sure they maintain their TPS and employment authorization,” he warned. “Re-registration is restricted to people who beforehand registered for and have been granted TPS below Haiti’s preliminary designation.”
The US Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) mentioned it acknowledges that not all re-registrants who apply for a brand new EAD could obtain it earlier than their present EAD expires and is mechanically extending by means of Aug. 3, 2025, the validity of sure EADs beforehand issued below Haiti’s TPS designation.
“In case you have considered one of these EADs, to get an EAD that’s legitimate after Aug. 3, 2025, you will need to re-register for TPS and file Type I-765, Utility for Employment Authorization, following the directions within the Federal Register discover extending and redesignating Haiti for TPS by means of Feb. 3, 2026,” DHS mentioned. “If US Citizenship and Immigration Providers approves your newly filed Type I-765, USCIS will difficulty you an EAD legitimate by means of Feb. 3, 2026.”
DHS mentioned USCIS will proceed to course of pending purposes filed below earlier TPS designations for Haiti.
It mentioned people with a pending Type I-821, Utility for Short-term Protected Standing, or a associated Type I-765, as of July 1, 2024, don’t have to file both software once more.
DHS mentioned if USCIS approves a pending Type I-821 or Type I-765 filed below the earlier designation of TPS for Haiti, USCIS will grant the person TPS by means of Feb. 3, 2026, and difficulty an EAD legitimate by means of the identical date.
DHS mentioned this extension and redesignation don’t apply to anybody not already in the US on June 3, 2024, including that “penalties proceed to be enforced on these making an attempt to cross unlawfully or with out authorization into the US.”
For the reason that Securing the Border Presidential Proclamation and Interim Ultimate Rule was issued in early June, DHS disclosed that over 24,000 noncitizens have been eliminated or returned to greater than 20 nations.
“All irregular migration journeys, particularly maritime routes, are perilous, unforgiving, and sometimes lead to lack of life,” it mentioned, including that it’ll “proceed to implement US legal guidelines and coverage all through the Florida Straits and the Caribbean area, in addition to on the southwest border.
“US coverage is to return noncitizens who don’t set up a authorized foundation to stay in the US,” DHS continued.
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