For Immediate Release: May 22, 2021

Contact: press@wearehome.us 

 

The We Are Home Campaign Welcomes the Announcement of the Redesignation of Temporary Protection Status for Haiti

Washington, DC— Today, the Biden Administration finally announced the redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. This means that more than 100,000 Haitians already in the U.S. may seek protection from being separated from their families and communities. Instead of being forced to return to Haiti, which is facing one of the worst outbreaks of violence in decades, as well as a political and humanitarian crisis, Haitians in America will be able to live and work in America. 

On behalf of the We Are Home Campaign, the following leaders weighed in:

Guerline Jozef,  Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance: “This is a win for America, a win for Haiti, and a win for the determination and tenacity of Haitian Americans to advocate for themselves and their families. Redesignating TPS will bring relief and hope to so many of our Haitian brothers and sisters who have built their lives and homes here. Too many of us are in constant fear of being deported back to the chaos and violence that is gripping Haiti, but today, the Haitian community in the United States will applaud and celebrate. While we applaud today’s decision, there is still so much more that needs to be done to protect immigrants, refugees and people seeking asylum, especially those from other majority Black countries in Africa and the Caribbean who are in great need. We will continue to urge the Biden administration to ensure TPS for other nationals, such as Cameroonians, Sudanese and Guatemalans, who are also at risk should they be deported to hostile conditions. With the Dream and Promise Act, the Senate can also ensure permanent protections for Dreamers and TPS holders.”

Patrice Lawrence, Co-Director of UndocuBlack Network:Today’s news is the result of countless hours of organizing, advocating and mobilization among Black immigrants’ rights leaders and their communities. But while we celebrate today’s news, we also acknowledge that this is only the beginning. Other majority-Black countries, including Cameroon, Mauritania, Bahamas and St. Vincent also must receive TPS designation immediately. We are grateful to see President Biden finally  fulfilling their campaign promise, but it is moot for our fellow Haitian asylum seekers until he ends Title 42 deportations and implements parole for Haitians seeking safety. Then, our celebration can be complete. And we will not stop until we achieve that.“

Bridgette Gomez, We Are Home Campaign Director: “We welcome this move by the Biden Administration in righting the wrongs by the Trump Administration when it comes to Haiti. As a candidate, President Biden promised support for the Haitian community in the U.S. and spoke of his support for Haitian TPS holders specifically. This support was in clear contrast to the racism and xenophobia that animated the prior Administration’s termination of TPS for Haiti and other countries. Today, recognition of Haiti’s current situation and the urgency of re-designation is a sigh of relief and another sign of progress on immigration by the Biden Administration.”

Last week, the We Are Home Steering Committee sent this letter to the President and leaders in the Biden Administration requesting the immediate redesignation of Haiti for TPS.  

We Are Home is a nationwide campaign to fight for immigrant communities on three fronts: prioritizing and demanding a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America; a moratorium and overhaul of interior enforcement; and broad affirmative relief from deportation. We Are Home is co-chaired by Community Change/Community Change Action; National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)/Care in Action; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); United Farm Workers/UFW Foundation; and United We Dream.

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