White House pressed to OK immigration change for Haitians

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: M. Herald

Haitian-American activists, immigrant advocates and South Florida lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are intensely lobbying the Obama administration to keep undocumented Haitian immigrants from being deported to an island nation whose economy is in ruins following Tuesday's horrific earthquake.

On Thursday, all three groups will be holding news conferences in Miami to press their case to the public.

The goal: to persuade the Obama administration to grant an estimated 30,000 Haitian nationals Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, an immigration benefit long sought by those involved in the debate.

TPS is granted to selected immigrants in the United States who cannot safely return to their homelands because of natural disasters, armed conflicts or other emergencies. Those eligible are allowed to remain here, obtain work permits and temporary stays for specific periods -- a status often renewed indefinitely.


Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/haiti/story/1424614.html

[MiniMe]

1. I would agree with TPS. Kristin Gillibrand proposed it yesterday

and sent a letter to Obama proposing it. It is temporary, but sending anybody back to Haiti right now is inhumane.

[Auggie]

2. By all means

[dkf]

3. Doesn't that set you up for future deportation though?

I would not like to establish myself under this status unless I was already caught.

[Jefferson23]

4. I can't imagine Obama not doing this for these folks.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Past administrations have allowed

boatloads and boatloads of Haitian women and children to drown and die at sea. They need to catch a break for once.

[defendandprotect]

6. Should have same rights as Cubans to enter America --

[shireen]

8. i was just thinking the same!

thanks for reminding us.

[Solly Mack]

7. K&R