50,000 Haitian Immigrants Face Uncertain Future

National Public Radio’s All Things Considered recently aired an interview with Marjean Perhot, director of immigration and refugee services at Catholic Charities in Boston, about the 50,000 Haitians who have lived in the U.S. since the 2010 earthquake. With the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration enforcement and focus on deportation, this group of immigrants now fears what stepped-up enforcement efforts will mean for them. At best, these immigrants now face an uncertain future with respect to their immigration status. Haitian migrants have lived legally in the United States for several years under an immigration status known as TPS – Temporary Protected Status. After the 2010 earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands of Haitians, the Obama administration made TPS available to Haitians because their native country was too unstable for them to return. Subsequently, the Obama administration extended TPS to this group of immigrants several times. An extensive social media and letter-writing campaign from supporters of the Haitian immigrants living in the U.S. under TPS has ensued, hoping to sway the Trump administration for a further extension. Trump had until May 23rd to decide whether to extend TPS for Haitians, whose status is to expire on July 22nd. Fortunately, the administration opted to extend TPS for these immigrants for another six months. At the same time, however, officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned Haitians that they should get their affairs in order, secure travel documents, and prepare to return to Haiti. The next looming deadline is January 22, 2018. Many lawmakers and advocates agree that six months is not a sufficient amount of time for Haiti to reabsorb tens of thousands of natives who have been living in the U.S. up until now This new deadline leaves Haitians hanging on for another six months with no solid plans for the future. Legal representation is essential to fighting back against deportation charges brought by the federal government. The Oakland deportation defense attorneys of Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. know how to help you through every step of your deportation proceedings. Take the first step today toward securing the future of your family in the United States, and call our office at (510) 756-4468 to set up a legal consultation with one of our highly skilled California immigration lawyers.