On Saturday, The United States of America declared another extended 18-month designation of Haitians for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Secretary of US Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said that the new TPS assignment empowers Haitian nationals – and people without ethnicity who last lived in Haiti – as of now dwelling in the United States, as of May 21, to document starting applications for TPS, “so long as they meet eligibility requirements.”
“Haiti is currently experiencing serious security concerns, social unrest, an increase in human rights abuses, crippling poverty, and lack of basic resources, which are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayorkas in a statement.
Mayorkas also added that “After careful consideration, we determined that we must do what we can to support Haitian nationals in the United States until conditions in Haiti improve so they may safely return home.”
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that, after counseling with interagency accomplices, Mayorkas chose to assign Haiti for TPS “due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti that prevent nationals from returning safely, specifically, a political crisis and human rights abuses; serious security concerns; and the COVID-19 pandemic’s exacerbation of a dire economic situation, and lack of access to food, water and healthcare.”
“The persistent effects of the 2010 earthquake have also exacerbated the severity of the extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti currently,” the department said.
“It is important to note that TPS will apply only to those individuals who are already residing in the United States as of May 21, 2021, and meet all other requirements,” the department stressed. “Those who attempt to travel to the United States after this announcement will not be eligible for TPS and may be repatriated.”
It said Haiti’s 18-month designation will become real on the distribution date of the US Federal Register notice to come in the blink of an eye.
DHS said the Federal Register notice will give directions to applying for TPS and business approval documentation.
“Individuals eligible for TPS under Haiti’s new designation must file an application for TPS with US Citizenship and Immigration Services within the registration period that will begin upon publication of the Federal Register notice,” it said.
“This includes current beneficiaries under Haiti’s TPS designation, who will need to file a new application to register for TPS to ensure they do not lose TPS or experience a gap in coverage,” it added.
DHS said people petitioning for TPS may likewise demand an Employment Authorization Document and travel approval. DHS noticed that previous US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano at first assigned Haiti for TPS in January 2010, “based on extraordinary and temporary conditions within the country, specifically the effects of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake.”
As indicated by the DHS, Haitian recipients hold their TPS and TPS-related records through October 4, 2022.
The division said it will keep on expanding the advantage and reports whenever needed to consent to court orders.
It said these recipients are likewise qualified to apply under the new designation of Haiti to get TPS for the whole 18-month time frame.
With additions from CNW
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