Washington D.C. — Today, the Center for American Progress submitted a statement for the record for an upcoming hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on “Policy Recommendations on Haiti for the Biden Administration.” In the statement, CAP appreciates that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes that conditions in Haiti today pose a risk of harm to people returned to that country. CAP recommends that the administration redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), restart the Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program, and consider restoring the access of Haitian nationals to the H-2A program.
Mara Rudman, executive vice president of policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
The situation in Haiti today is of grave concern. It is encouraging that the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in its oversight role, is exploring policy options available to the Biden administration. An effective response will require a diversity of approaches. We hope that this includes the administration redesignating Haiti for TPS as soon as possible.
A new TPS designation—based on the rising political instability and unrest that complicate the country’s ability to adequately address long-standing challenges that threaten the health and safety of returnees—would protect Haitians already in the United States whose lives would be placed in jeopardy by being returned at this time, including tens of thousands who have already lived and worked here with TPS for more than 10 years.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Claudia Montecinos at [email protected].