Contact: tsaintil@haitianbridge.org
Pluisi@haitianbridge.org 

San Diego, CA, December 5, 2022 – Haitian Bridge Alliance is pleased with the Biden-Harris administration’s decision to extend and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). As the UN Security Council is considering an international intervention in Haiti to open aid corridors and resolve what the UN Secretary-General calls an “absolutely nightmarish situation” caused by gang violence, the dire situation in Haiti is only exacerbated by the cholera pandemic and the crippling economy with an inflation rate of 30 percent. According to a recent report by the UN, 4.7 million people in Haitian Nationals are facing acute hunger, including 19,000 in catastrophic famine conditions for the first time. It is also estimated that nearly 50 percent of the capital’s population is directly affected by gang violence, and 4.5 million need humanitarian assistance.

Guerline Jozef, Co-founder and Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance, the Black Immigrants Bail Fund, and founding member of Cameroon Advocacy Network, said “We welcome this much-needed announcement from the Biden administration. We rejoice and celebrate with our Haitian siblings and stand undeterred, in solidarity as we continue to work with and for the Haitian and Haitian-American communities. We are grateful for all our partner organizations, many of whom supported the letter led by the Haitian Bridge Alliance calling for the extension and redesignation of TPS for Haiti. This is another example of ‘Anpil men, chay pa lou.’ We acknowledge that there is much work to be done to welcome all people in need of protection with dignity and center the voices and narratives of Black migrants and immigrants. As we celebrate, we urge for the swift release of the Federal Register Notice as well as the release of all Haitians currently in immigration detention centers. We also call for the same protection for all deserving of safety, such as Nationals from Mauritania, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and others.” 

Taisha Saintil, Advocacy, and Communications Associate and Founding Member of Cameroon Advocacy Network, said “ Today’s decision secures protection for thousands of Haitians in the United States living in fear and uncertainty. Although we are elated, we do acknowledge that this decision came after much advocacy, and inspired fear in the hearts and minds of Haitians all across the country. It is without a doubt that the Biden Administration not only made the morally right decision but also the one that makes the most sense for the United States. As highlighted by a report by FWD.us, Haitians who are living in the U.S. and are currently eligible for TPS contribute $2.6 billion to our economy each year, and 81% of them are in the labor force, providing essential services at a time of worker shortages and high inflation. This redesignation of TPS allows more Haitians in the U.S. to enroll in the program and contribute their skills and talents to American communities and the American workforce. As we continue to fight with our allies to ensure the total eradication of anti-Blackness within the immigration system, we take this moment today to thank the administration for this decision.”