May 6, 2024
Contact: Paige Censale, pcensale@haitianbridge.org

MEDIA ADVISORY
Wednesday May 8, 2024 – 11:00 AM EST

In response to the ongoing humanitarian and security crises in Haiti and the critical need for the Biden-Harris administration to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals in the United States, Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Cori Bush (MO-1st), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) are joining immigrant advocates for a Congressional press conference. The conference aims to address these pressing issues and bring attention to the urgent need for the following:

1. Extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Republic of Haiti which expires August 4, 2024.
2. Halt the repatriations of Haitian nationals to the island
3. Immediate release of detained Haitians, and support administrative closure of removal cases, expedite processing for the Haitian Family Reunification Program, the Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (CHNV) parole program
4. To avoid disruption of employment eligibility, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must issue a new Federal Register Notice extending TPS work authorization for current TPS holders well before August 4, 2024
5. Reconsider the sending of Haitian nationals to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
6. Support strong and sustainable infrastructure in Haiti including agriculture, education, healthcare, and roads so people can thrive

Details of the Press Conference
WHEN:   Wednesday, May 8, 2024
TIME:     11:00 AM EST
WHERE: 720 House Triangle on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. 

Speakers:
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Member of Congress (MA-07)
Rep. Steven Horsford, Member of Congress (NV-04)
Rep. Frederica Wilson, Member of Congress (FL-24)
Rep. Yvette Clarke, Member of Congress (NY-09)
Rep. Cori Bush, Member of Congress (MO-01)
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Member of Congress (FL-20)
Guerline Jozef, Executive Director, Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA)
Mary Estimé-Irvin, Chairwoman, National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON)
Tessa Petit, Executive Director, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC)
Patrice Lawrence, Executive Director of the UndocuBlack Network (UBN)