USCCB Committee on Migration Chair Thankful for Administration’s Decision to Extend Temporary Protection for Haitians; Urges Continued Engagement on Humanitarian Assistance

WASHINGTON—The chairman of the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration, Bishop Joe S.Vásquez of Austin, Texas, offered his appreciation to Secretary John Kelly ofthe Department of Homeland Security for his decision to extend TemporaryProtective Status for Haitians in the United States for six months but urgedcontinued engagement and humanitarian assistance to improve conditions inHaiti.

Full statement follows:

"On behalf of the USCCB Committee onMigration, I express gratitude to Secretary Kelly of the Department of HomelandSecurity (DHS) and the Trump Administration for extending another six months ofTemporary Protective Status (TPS) to over 58,000 Haitians living and working inthe United States legally. While this extension is helpful, it stillleaves many Haitian families in the United States in an insecure and vulnerableposition, particularly with respect to ensuring legal workauthorization. Extending TPS serves an important humanitarian role byproviding for the safety, well-being, and stability of Haitians living inthe United States. We encourage our government to work proactively with theHaitian government to provide life-saving aid and recovery assistance. Haitiwill continue to struggle to receive back those who are temporarily protected,even those who may be returned in the near future. Through the Church's servicenetworks, we will continue to assist Haitian families in the U.S., aid therebuilding process in Haiti and look for opportunities to collaborate with theChurch in Haiti and the Haitian and U.S. governments."

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Keywords: United States Conference ofCatholic Bishops, USCCB, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, Committee on Migration,Secretary John Kelly, Department of Homeland Security, Trump Administration,Temporary Protective Status (TPS), Haitian families, Haitian government, Churchin Haiti, safety, well-being, stability. 

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