WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the Biden administration extended and redesignated Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the U.S. as of June 3. The redesignation makes an estimated 309,000 Haitians newly eligible for protections, according to DHS.
Last month, the Forum urged DHS to take several steps that would help Haitians and discourage irregular migration as Haiti continues to experience “widespread violence, food insecurity, and political instability.”
Today’s TPS extension and redesignation were first on the list. Other suggestions include pausing deportations to Haiti, fully utilizing and possibly expanding existing humanitarian parole for arriving Haitians, streamlining visas, and taking additional measures to protect Haitian children.
“Today’s announcement is a relief for all of us who care about human life and human dignity. Haitians already in the U.S. should not face the prospect of being returned to a nation in crisis,” said Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. “The expansion of TPS is a critical first step. Now the administration should consider additional measures, including actions to encourage legal migration processes for people who, in desperation, might otherwise turn to unauthorized routes.”