After reviewing Haiti’s current circumstances, Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly recently said the United States will grant that nation an extra six-month period of guardianship.
The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) status will be extended effective July 23.
Haiti has not fully recovered since being ravaged by an earthquake seven years ago, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Kelly said in a press release that the Haitian government is receptive to repatriation of its displaced residents currently living stateside; the TPS extension will allow ample time for such transition.
“Haiti has made progress across several fronts since the devastating earthquake in 2010, and I’m proud of the role the United States has played during this time in helping our Haitian friends,” Kelly said, citing successful transition of Haitian citizens out of refugee camps and noting that the island nation’s economy is gradually recovering.
Equally encouraging are “the Haitian government’s stated plans to rebuild the Haitian President’s residence at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, and the withdrawal of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti," he said.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages Haitian TPS beneficiaries to prepare in advance for relocation during the extra time window and remember to regard their U.S. residency as temporary, Kelly said. The TPS extension will cover the period of time between July 23 and Jan. 22.
“We plan to continue to work closely with the Haitian government, including assisting the government in proactively providing travel documents for its citizens,” Kelly said.
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