Haitian TPS expiration sparks fear of deportation in Florida communities
Haitians were granted Temporary Protection Status after a major earthquake hit in 2010. Protections were later extended as the country continued to face instability.
TAMPA, Fla. — Thousands of Haitians are still living with uncertainty as their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is now set to expire Monday after a federal appeals court delayed Friday’s deadline.
“In a situation where they no longer have a home, where they no longer have a permanent place to rest their head is very concerning to all of them,” said Keto Nord Hodges, who came to the U.S. from Haiti as a young child and was adopted by a missionary. “It was a wonderful, new experience. A new lease on life literally for me.”
Hodges is now a U.S. citizen, but he said he sees the fear over TPS every day, working with Haitian students in Hillsborough County Public Schools.
“Some of them are considering dropping out of school because they don’t want their children to get picked up by ICE while they’re at school or while they’re registering for school,” Hodges said.
Hodges said many work on farms and in healthcare in the Tampa Bay area — opportunities he said his home country can’t offer.
“They are critical to our healthcare infrastructure. Without them, the healthcare infrastructure would be at a disadvantage,” Hodges said.
Haitians were granted TPS status after a major earthquake hit in 2010. Protections were later extended as the country continued to face instability.
“Every single gang member pretty much has automatic weapons, and they’ve threatened children, senior citizens, pastors of churches,” Hodges said.
Some argue temporary protections have lasted long enough.
“It has never been the case that having communities that have high crime rates is a basis for asylum. Never has been, never will be,” Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, said.
“I don’t know what I would do if I had to be forced to go back into a situation where I could potentially lose my life,” Hodges said.
Florida has the highest number of Haitians in the United States. Of the roughly 488,000 Haitians living in the state, more than 32% — about a third — have been granted TPS.