| DHS Grants Temporary Protected Status to Haitians Following Catastrophic Earthquake |
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Following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti last week, the Obama administration announced that it is granting temporary protected status (TPS) to Haitians who were in the U.S. as of January 12, 2010. The designation will allow eligible Haitian nationals in the U.S. to continue living and working in the country for the next 18 months. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano noted that "[t]hose who attempt to travel to the United States after January 12, 2010, will not be eligible for TPS and will be repatriated." In the AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Press Release issued January 15, 2010, "AILA Applauds the Grant of TPS to Haitian Nationals", Bernie Wolfsdorf noted "[t]he tragic situation in Haiti justifies such a designation. The worst earthquake in 200 years has left thousands, and perhaps millions, homeless. Infrastructures have quite literally crumbled. There is simply no way that Haiti could absorb the return of its nationals under these conditions. The Administration has expressed its desire to apply our immigration laws in a fair and compassionate manner. Here is a situation that cries out for that fairness and compassion." In a field guidance memo issued on January 15, Secretary Napolitano said that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services "will implement procedures to adjudicate favorably, where possible, applications for change or extension of nonimmigrant status following the expiration of an applicant's period of admission; grant an additional period of parole or advance parole in appropriate cases; and authorize 'F' nonimmigrant students' requests for off-campus employment work authorization." She said USCIS will also "expedite the processing of advance parole applications and relative petitions for minor children from affected areas," and will "grant employment authorization where appropriate." Please visit these links for more information: Temporary Protected Status Factsheet: http://curranberger.com/images//tps%20fact%20sheet.pdf Hatian Relief Resources: http://curranberger.com/images//haitian-relief-helpful%20resources.doc The field guidance memo, which outlines actions a USCIS officer may take when an applicant is a Haitian national or a habitual resident of Haiti: http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/2010/haiti-field-guidance.pdf. The announcement, along with information about USCIS's Haiti relief effort: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=9cf75869c9326210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=9cf75869c9326210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Details on TPS application and eligibility requirements for Haitians: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=e54e60f64f336210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e54e60f64f336210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Department of State information about queries related to U.S. citizens in Haiti and related issues: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_haiti_info_number.html |