United States.- The Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) has formally requested an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants currently residing in the United States. This initiative aims to safeguard Haitian citizens from deportation and grant them work permits amidst the ongoing crisis in their homeland.
TPS serves as an immigration safeguard, permitting individuals from specific nationalities to reside and work in the United States during perilous conditions in their home country. In Haiti’s case, the situation has deteriorated due to heightened gang violence and a security crisis following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.
The most recent extension of TPS for Haiti was declared by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas on December 5, 2022, elongating it for 18 months until August 3, 2024, citing hazardous conditions prevailing in the Caribbean nation.
It’s essential to note that eligibility for TPS necessitates individuals to have no records of serious criminal convictions in the United States and must fulfill specific criteria concerning continuous physical presence or residence in the country. The ongoing request to extend TPS for Haitians in the United States awaits a response from immigration authorities.