‘We’re devastated’: Community advocates react to TPS ending for Haitian migrants

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. —

Temporary Protected Status for more than 300,000 Haitians living in the United States is set to expire Monday.

Nearly half of that number are in South Florida, as its large Haitian community could see the most immediate impacts.

According to ABC News, ICE is planning to “ramp up” it’s operations targeting Haitians.

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“We’re devastated. This is catastrophic news for the entire Haitian community,” Marie Pereira, a Haitian-American attorney and the founder of the Haiti Immigration Project, said.

The Haiti Immigration Project is a non-profit supporting Haitian migrants.

“For those of us who have no options to become a lawful permanent resident, it really means that they are deportable. For the most part, those people who have existing orders of removal, it’s even easier for them to be subject of expedited removal,” Pereira said.

TPS allows people from countries experiencing turmoil to remain in the U.S. and work legally.

Haitians were first granted this status after a catastrophic earthquake devastated the country in 2010, but Trump administration officials said they believe conditions have improved enough for TPS holders to return, despite widespread gang violence and unrest.

“Planes are not flying to certain parts of Haiti. So, if Haiti is so unsafe for American life, what makes it safe for a Haitian life who is living here to be forced to go back to that type of situation? Make it make sense,” Pereira said.

“My business has been destroyed, you see there’s nobody here everybody afraid to come out,” said Nathan Vincent, a West Palm Beach Haitian business owner. “I am losing customers every hour, my business is dry, they don’t come anymore we’re on the brink of closure.”

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Now, advocates for the Haitian immigrant community are urging those in the community to educate themselves.

“The single most important piece of advice that we can give folks is to seek out legal representation, or at the very least, legal guidance. A consultation from a legal services organization or even a private attorney is going to go a long way,” Vanessa Joseph, an immigration attorney with Catholic Legal Services, said.

Joseph said everyone’s legal situation is different, so it’s best to ask for help navigating those waters.

“Making sure that people are having these conversations because deportations have been taking place for a little while now. And so, it’s not that it’s only now going to start, but now we’re going to see maybe a bigger wave of that happening,” Joseph said.

In Florida, some organizations to reach out to for legal advice include the Haitian Lawyers Association, the Florida Immigrant Coalition and Catholic Legal Services.

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