DHS Extends and Redesignates Haiti for Temporary Protected Status

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2024
Contact: Timothy Young | timothy.young@globalrefuge.org

Washington, D.C. – The Biden administration announced today the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for 18 months from Aug. 4, 2024, to Feb. 3, 2026. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas also redesignated Haiti for TPS, allowing Haitian nationals already residing in the United States as of June 3, 2024 to apply for temporary protection and work authorization. There are currently more than 200,000 Haitians with TPS living in the U.S. 

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) decision will enable about an additional 309,000 eligible Haitians to temporarily live and seek legal work authorization in the U.S. without fear of deportation. DHS cited violence, insecurity, and limited access to safety, health care, food, and water stemming from ongoing gang violence as the basis for the decision.  

The following is a statement by Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge, said: 

“We commend the Biden administration for recognizing the true protection needs of Haitians living here in the United States with today’s announcement. This decision will provide hundreds of thousands of Haitian nationals a lifesaving reprieve from a country ravaged by gang violence and ill-equipped to safely receive returning nationals. 

While today’s announcement is welcomed, it also demonstrates the Biden administration’s inconsistencies regarding Haitian migration given DHS’s resumption of deportation flights to Haiti earlier this year. Returning Haitians back to their home country when the situation is dire and unsafe contradicts the Biden administration’s stated goal of global humanitarian leadership and support of the Haitian people during this volatile time.  

The situation in Haiti is alarming enough that the State Department has evacuated its own diplomatic personnel and listed the nation on its “do not travel” advisory list. Given how dangerous conditions remain in Haiti, we call on the White House to halt Haitian deportation flights immediately.” 

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About us: 

Global Refuge, formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, is a nonprofit serving newcomers seeking safety, support, and a share in the American dream. For 85 years, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis. We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, welcome and respite services for asylum seekers, economic empowerment and employment, and family unification for unaccompanied children. To date, we have served over 750,000 people from around the globe. At Global Refuge, welcoming newcomers isn’t just our duty—it’s an inherent part of our identity, rooted in our Lutheran heritage and inspired values, and serving as a testament to our unwavering commitment to those in search of refuge.