The Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians who have lived — and thrived and prospered — in the United States since the 2010 earthquake shook much of their country to the ground. It’s a dismaying decision, but not unexpected.
This clearly is not the best news for Haitians with TPS. They will be able to stay in this country until 2019. But by July of that year, they will have to return to Haiti or be subject to deportation and, almost as bad, detention. That means people who are strongly woven into the fabric of this community, and other cities; whose children — some born in America — are excelling in school; and whose remittances help families in the still-fractured nation, will be lost to this community. And that is a shame.
However, it’s not the worst news — yet: Advocates mounted a resolute and vocal campaign pushing the Trump administration to extend TPS coverage for another 18 months. To President Trump’s credit, that is what his administration decided to do. Credit, too, Florida’s congressional delegation for making a strong pitch on behalf of these TPS recipients. They made it clear that Haiti, perpetually struggling, is in no way ready or able to absorb as many as 59,000 Haitians who would have to return.
In addition, they have a chance to legalize their status here; and there are several bills in Congress that could give them, and TPS recipients from Central America, a path to permanent residency. This would be the optimal outcome. Lawmakers and the Trump administration should take it seriously.
So, all is not lost — yet. We agree with lawmakers and advocates that terminating the TPS status for Haitians would be harsh and inhumane.
In addition to cholera, and political and economic stagnation, even the U.S. government has failed to deliver on its post-quake promises.
If the richest country in the hemisphere can’t deliver in Haiti, how can it expect the poorest to do so seven years after the worst natural disaster in modern history left more than 300,000 dead, 1.5 million displaced and billions of dollars in damage?
— Miami Herald