Thousands of Haitians in U.S. fear end of protected immigration status

World Today

Thousands of Haitians in U.S. fear end of protected immigration status

The U.S. government is deciding whether to extend temporary protected status – or TPS – for Haitian immigrants.

Roughly 50,000 Haitians live in the U.S. under the program, which protects them from deportation.  More than 300,000 people from 13 countries have TPS, granted due to war, natural disasters or other crises preventing them returning home. The Obama administration granted the status to Haitians following the 2010 earthquake in the country.  But immigration officials now say conditions there have improved, and are recommending TPS for Haitians be terminated.

CGTN’s Steve Mort spoke with Haitian activists urging the administration to renew the program.

Nermose Richemon is living in the U.S. with so-called Temporary Protected Status. It lets her live and work legally in the U.S. She uses part of the money she earns to buy goods to send to her family in Haiti.

But Richemon fears the U.S. government will not renew TPS for Haitians when it expires in July. After undergoing three eye surgeries, she says she won’t be able to visit the doctor if she’s forced to return.

U.S. immigration officials say conditions in the country, more than seven years after the earthquake, no longer justify extending TPS for Haitians.

Meanwhile, immigration officials are reportedly examining data on crimes committed by Haitians in the U.S., as the government weighs its decision on extending their right to stay. The Trump administration is expected to issue a decision by May 23, 2017.