MIAMI — A group of Democratic U.S. senators is urging the Biden administration to immediately expand and extend immigration protections for Haitians in the United States as Haiti’s ongoing civil unrest, gang violence and kidnappings force thousands to leave.
Led by Massachusetts Sen. Edward J. Markey, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the group of 15 lawmakers is asking that Temporary Protected Status be redesignated for Haiti. Haiti’s current 18-months designation expires in February.
Under that designation, Haitians who were living in the United States as of July 29, 2021, were allowed to take advantage of the humanitarian relief when the Biden administration expanded the eligibility requirements after the July 7, 2021, assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Nationals of countries designated under TPS are allowed to temporarily live and work legally in the United States without fear of deportation.
