Vol. 73/No. 38      October 5, 2009

The government designates TPS for immigrants living in the United States who “are temporarily unable to safely return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions,” according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.

The program is run by the Department of Homeland Security. Citizens of several countries in Central America and Africa have been granted temporary protected status because of civil wars and environmental disasters.

Mary, who asked that her last name not be used, from Fort Myers, Florida, and Jermain from Palm Beach both said that 30,000 Haitians face deportation. “They live in terror. They can’t work. What are they going to do if deported? That’s why we need TPS now,” Jermain said.

He pointed out that Haiti was devastated by hurricanes in 2004 and 2008. “These were truly disasters for the Haitian people,” he said. “That is supposed to be one of the reasons to grant TPS, according to the U.S. government. But rather than giving us TPS, we get deported.”

The majority of participants rode 16 hours on buses from several cities in southern Florida, including Palm Beach County, Fort Myers, and Miami. Others came from Orlando, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; and Boston.

Many carried signs stating, “One thing the U.S. can do is grant TPS for Haitians.” Others said, “Obama: TPS for Haitians Now.” One of the most popular chants was, “What do we want? TPS now!”

Eli Zephizen, an unemployed worker from Pompano, Florida, told the Militant, “We can’t work without TPS. We can’t get drivers licenses without TPS. And we can be deported.”

He noted that many Haitians have children who are U.S.-born and deportation divides their families.

Many participants noted that President Barack Obama promised to change this situation when he was a candidate running for president. But so far nothing has changed. Gary Lucien, a coalition leader from West Palm Beach, pointed out, “We qualify for TPS according to the immigration laws. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Haiti and promised to work for TPS. What’s the holdup? It’s either politics or racism or both.” He further commented, “If they don’t grant TPS we’ll be back in the thousands.”

Marleine Bastien, a leader of Haitian Women of Miami, said, “We are here to remind President Obama of his promises to us. So far the policies are the same as under the Bush administration. Granting TPS for Haitians does not require an act of Congress. Obama can do it with the stroke of the pen. We demand he do it now.”  
 
 
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