[Peace-discuss] Fw: Let Haitian Immigrants Stay in the US Till Haiti Recovers

[Jenifer Cartwright]

--- On Thu, 1/14/10, Just Foreign Policy <info at justforeignpolicy.org> wrote:






 

Dear Jenifer,

Urge President Obama to grant Haitian immigrants Temporary Protected Status so that they can remain and work legally in the US until Haiti recovers

As you are no doubt aware, Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake earlier this week. The devastation was amplified by Haiti's unaddressed extreme poverty. [1] Port-au-Prince is crowded with economic refugees from the countryside, forced to live in substandard housing. President Obama has promised that the U.S. will do all it can to help Haiti in this moment of crisis. [2] 

But the Obama Administration has a simple tool at its disposal to help Haiti that it has so far refused to use: it can grant Haitians in the U.S. "Temporary Protected Status," allowing them to stay and work in the U.S. until Haiti recovers. 

Would you write to President Obama and your representatives in Congress and ask them to grant Haitians Temporary Protected Status? 

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/haiti-tps 

Due to the extreme poverty and devastating hurricanes that Haiti has experienced in the last few years, Haitian-American advocacy groups have been advocating for temporary protected status for Haitians that are currently in the US illegally. In 2008, Haiti was hit by four hurricanes and tropical storms that wiped out most of Haiti's food crops, killed hundreds and caused billions of dollars in damage. [3] Haitian-American groups and the Haitian government asked the U.S. to grant TPS to Haitians in the U.S., but the Bush Administration denied this request . [4] In February, President Obama denied another petition for TPS for Haitians. [5] Currently, Salvadorans, Hondurans and Nicaraguans in the U.S. have Temporary Protected Status due to recent natural disasters and extreme poverty in their home countries. 

The earthquake is probably the greatest disaster to hit a country that has suffered numerous catastrophes over the years. If the Obama Administration will not grant TPS to Haitians in the U.S. now, during Haiti's most dire moment of need, when will it do so? 

If the United States does not approve TPS for Haitian immigrants, tens of thousands of people could eventually face deportation back to Haiti. The extreme poverty and recent earthquake should qualify Haitians for TPS, but the Obama administration will need a push from advocates like you. You can write to President Obama and your representatives by following the link below:

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/haiti-tps 

Thank you for all you do to help bring about a just foreign policy, 

Chelsea Mozen, Sarah Burns, Robert Naiman and Megan Iorio
Just Foreign Policy 

Please support our work. Donate for a Just Foreign Policy.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate.html

References: 

1. "Country Without a Net," Tracy Kidder, New York Times, January 13, 2010 
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/opinion/14kidder.html
2. "U.S. Mobilizes to Help Haiti," Helene Cooper and Liz Robbins, New York Times, 13 January 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/world/americas/14prexy.html?hp
2. Ibid.
3. "Advocates for Haitian Immigrants Press for Temporary Relief From Deportation," Kirk Semple, New York Times, 27 May, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/nyregion/28haitians.html?_r=1
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.


© 2009 Just Foreign Policy
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