Haitians Illegally in U.S. Given Protected Status

[Matariki]

Good news. Let's keep contacting Congress on the Jubilee Act as well...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/world/americas/16immig.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The Obama administration extended a special immigration status on Friday to Haitians living illegally in the United States, protecting them from deportation for 18 months and allowing them to work here.

Calling the aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake “a disaster of historic proportions,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she was making the designation, known as temporary protected status, for Haitian immigrants because their personal safety would be at risk if they were deported to Haiti.

Administration officials said the special status would cover at least 100,000 Haitians believed to be living in the United States illegally, as well as about 30,000 Haitians who have been ordered deported. Haitians who receive the status will obtain documents allowing them to work legally.

[aquart]

1. Very good news.

[BunkerHill24]

2. Again this is not gonna solve the underlining issue

What is at issue here is our immigration policy toward Haiti. The current temporary status will not grant a-leave from immigration facilities centers Haitians currently occupy. We need to look into a way to establish a guarantee on an equal amount of immigrants whether be Refugee/Asylum or work permits that the government yearly allocated to other nations.

[pleah]

3. K&R

[Posteritatis]

4. Canada's fast-tracking Haitian immigration, too. Cue the howls of outrage, of course.. (nt)

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. WAIT FOR IT... 3,2.... for the righties to scream

:-)

Good news indeed.

[HipChick]

6. America is not alone in doing this, Europe, and many other Carribean nations said the same today..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7475504