Contact:
Rhenie Dalger, rdalger@fanm.org, 786-280-9062
Mariangela Cordero, mcordero@fanm.org, 786-537-3518
FANM and its allies rally in front of ICE (Broward)
MIAMI, FL- Today, the Biden Administration announced it would redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Haitians currently residing in the United States. This could allow over 100,000 Haitians to remain in the United States with legal standing. Eligible immigrants have 180 days to apply for TPS and must prove they entered the United States before May 22, 2021. Once granted, their TPS status would last for up to 18 months. FANM applauds this decision and stands ready to assist members with the application process.
A redesignation will benefit Haitians who came to the U.S. after the earthquake. Close to 2000 Haitian refugees/immigrants, including hundreds of children, have been deported on thirty-four flights to Haiti since the beginning of February 2021. In recent months, Haitians have been the victims of violent killings, skyrocketing kidnappings, rape/gender-based violence, and heavy repression from state-aligned forces reminiscent of the Duvalier and other dictatorships in Haiti.
Marleine Bastien, Executive Director of Family Action Network Movement (FANM), stated, "We applaud and commend the Biden Administration's decision to redesignate TPS for Haiti. During a recent march in Washington on May 18th and a meeting with White House and DHS officials Thursday evening, I sent a strong message to President Biden that given the deteriorating political situation in Haïti including state sponsored massacres, kidnapping/killing of political opponents , widespread raping of women and girls , it was time to redesignate Haiti for TPS and that “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied.”””
Steve Forester, Immigration Policy Coordinator for the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), said, (Steve will add) “Haiti’s redesignation for TPS recognizes that extraordinary conditions of political and social crisis and insecurity make deportations to Haiti unsafe and redesignation appropriate. We applaud the administration, which since February 1 has expelled about 2,000 Haitians on 34 flights, for this long overdue and entirely appropriate action.”
Over the past 4 years, FANM and its partners have built an extensive and sustainable campaign around TPS redesignation for Haïti . Consequently, over 100,000 families and their children will finally have a good night's sleep tonight and this is priceless. We have targeted elected officials, rallied in front of ICE buildings , held press conferences, provided educational resources, launched petitions/ social media campaigns but most importantly, organized members of our community who would directly benefit from TPS.
Ynnocent, an undocumented immigrant from Haiti said, “ I came to the U.S. after leaving Haiti in 2012 because I was facing political persecution. I’m unable to work to care for my U.S. born daughter because I’m undocumented. I applaud the Biden Administration decision to grant TPS to Haiti because now I and the 100,000 undocumented Haitians will be able to provide for our families.
Family Action Network Movement (FANM) formerly known as Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami, Inc)/ Haitian Women of Miami is a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to the social, economic, financial and political empowerment of low to moderate-income families.
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