May 18, 2026
Media Contact: media@haitianbridge.org

San Diego, CA — On Haitian Flag Day, Haitian Bridge Alliance honors the Republic of Haiti’s revolutionary legacy as the first free Black republic, which gained its independence from France in 1804 following the only successful slave revolt in modern history. Haiti remains a global symbol of Black liberation, resistance, and self-determination. As we commemorate this historic occasion, we call for reparative justice from France and the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.

This year’s commemoration comes amid an escalating humanitarian crisis in Haiti. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies report that approximately 1.4 million Haitians have been displaced by violence and instability, while millions face severe food insecurity and limited access to basic services. An estimated 2.6 million children in Haiti  in need of humanitarian assistance. 

Nonetheless, Haitian Americans, including TPS holders, play an essential role in sustaining the U.S. economy and workforce. Haitian TPS holders alone, contribute approximately $5.9 billion annually to the U.S. economy. They pay an estimated $1.5 billion annually in federal, state, and local taxes. Roughly 200,000 Haitian TPS holders are active in the U.S. workforce, filling critical roles in healthcare, caregiving, agriculture, transportation, and service industries. 

Beyond the contributions of the Haitian diaspora within the United States, in 2024, reached approximately $4.5 billion in remittances to Haiti, serving as a lifeline for families in Haiti and accounting for a significant share of the country’s economy.

Haitian Bridge Alliance also renews calls for reparative justice from France for the independence debt imposed on Haiti after its independence — a historic financial burden widely recognized as having severely undermined Haiti’s economic development for generations.

“Haitian Flag Day is a reminder that Haiti changed the course of world history through its fight for Black freedom,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “Yet, more than two centuries later, Haitians continue to confront the consequences of historic exploitation, political instability, anti-Black immigration policies, and family separation. The international community cannot pretend to celebrate Haiti’s revolutionary legacy while ignoring the conditions forcing Haitians to flee and the foreign and domestic policies that continue to destabilize Haitian lives.”

Through robust advocacy led by HBA and its partners, the U.S. House of Representatives, under the fierce leadership of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, passed legislation last month to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals for three years. HBA has been actively engaging with the U.S. Senate to advance passage of a corresponding measure. HBA continues to advocate across both Congress and the courts—not only on behalf of Haitian TPS recipients, but for immigrant communities more broadly, with particular attention to those from marginalized backgrounds.

On this Haitian Flag Day, Haitian Bridge Alliance calls for an end to deportations to Haiti, the protection of Haitian families, meaningful international engagement centered on Haitian-led solutions, and serious dialogue surrounding reparative justice and long-term stability for the Haitian people so they can thrive and prosper.

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ABOUT HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), also known as “The Bridge”, is a grassroots community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies, foreign policy, and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black migrants, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses. HBA also seeks to elevate the issues unique to Black migrants and build solidarity and a collective movement toward policy change. Anpil men chay pa lou (“Many hands make the load light”).
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