USCCB Migration and Refugee Services Releases Report Recommending Extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops' Office of Migration andRefugee Services (USCCB/MRS), released its report today, entitled Haiti's Ongoing Road to Recovery: TheNecessity of an Extension of Temporary Protected Status, recommendingthe U.S. government extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. 

Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin,Texas, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, in a letter introducingthe report, states: "[W]hile conditions in Haiti are improving, the country isnot yet in a position where it can adequately and safely accept return of theestimated 50,000 Haitian nationals who have received TPS."

A delegation from USCCB/MRStraveled to Haiti, from September 4-7, 2017, to examine the progress Haiti hadmade since its initial designation for TPS in 2010 and the challenges thatremain. The delegation also assessed the ability of the country to safelyaccept and reintegrate returned nationals should TPS for Haiti be terminated.USCCB/MRS Committee Member, Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, Florida, led thedelegation and was accompanied by Bishop Launay Saturnéof Jacmel, Haiti, as well as staff from MRS and the Catholic LegalImmigration Network, Inc.

Currently, there are an estimated50,000 Haitians living in the U.S. with TPS. Through its work in Haiti and inthe United States, the Catholic Church knows these individuals to behardworking contributors to American communities, Catholic parishes, and ournation. Unfortunately, Haitian TPS recipients are living in a state ofuncertainty and flux as Haiti's current TPS designation is set to expire onJanuary 22, 2018, with the Administration required to make a decision to extendor terminate the status by November 23, 2017.

BishopVásquez states in his introductory letter: "We urge the Administration toprovide an 18-month extension of TPS for Haiti to ensure recipients' continuedprotection while their country rebuilds. We further urge Congress to work in abipartisan manner to find a legislative solution for TPS recipients who havebeen in the United States for many years."

This reportand other resources related to TPS are available on the Justice for Immigrantswebsite at: www.justiceforimmigrants.org.Resources include a backgrounder on TPS, a toolkit for Catholic leaders thatoffers ideas on how to show their support and solidarity with TPS recipients,and the USCCB/MRS report on TPS for El Salvador and Honduras.

The fulltext of the Haiti report can be found at: https://www.usccb.org/about/migration-policy/fact-finding-mission-reports/upload/mrs-haiti-trip-report.pdf.

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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB,Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Temporary Protected Status(TPS), Bishop Launay Saturné of Jacmel, Haiti, U.S. Congress, legislativesolution, Justice for Immigrants, El Salvador, Honduras.

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