“Squad” member Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) recently spoke out in support of extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals. In a statement, Pressley emphasized the vital role that Haitian TPS holders play in their local communities and businesses, and called for their protection.
TPS is a humanitarian program that allows foreign nationals to live and work in the United States if their home country is deemed unsafe due to natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary circumstances. Haiti has been granted TPS status since 2010, following a devastating earthquake that killed thousands and left the country in a state of chaos.
Since then, TPS for Haiti has been extended multiple times, allowing thousands of Haitian nationals to build lives and communities in the US. However, the program is currently set to expire in January 2022, putting the futures of over 50,000 Haitian TPS holders at risk.
Pressley, along with other members of the “Squad” including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), has been a vocal advocate for immigrant rights and has consistently pushed for a more humane and inclusive immigration system. In her statement, she highlighted the contributions that Haitian TPS holders have made to their communities, and the importance of extending TPS to protect them.
“Haitian TPS holders are essential members of our communities, contributing to our local economies and enriching our neighborhoods,” Pressley stated. “They have made our cities and towns feel like home and we must do everything in our power to protect them.”
Pressley’s call for extending TPS for Haiti comes at a critical time, as the Biden administration is currently reviewing the program and has yet to make a decision on whether to extend it. TPS holders and advocates have been urging the administration to not only extend TPS for Haiti, but also to create a pathway to citizenship for TPS holders and other undocumented immigrants.
The push for TPS extension is also supported by a wide range of organizations, including labor unions, faith groups, and immigrant rights organizations. In a letter to President Biden, over 300 organizations called for the administration to extend TPS for Haiti and other countries, stating that “ending TPS would be inhumane and would devastate families and communities.”
Pressley’s statement echoes the sentiments of these organizations, emphasizing the humanitarian impact of ending TPS for Haiti. “We cannot turn our backs on our Haitian brothers and sisters who have built their lives here and have become integral parts of our communities,” Pressley stated. “Ending TPS would not only be cruel, but it would also be detrimental to our local economies and businesses.”
The economic contributions of TPS holders cannot be understated. According to a report by the Center for American Progress, TPS holders from Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras contribute $4.5 billion in GDP each year and pay over $1.5 billion in federal taxes. Ending TPS for these countries would result in a loss of $164 billion from the US economy over a decade.
In addition to the economic impact, ending TPS for Haiti would also have a devastating effect on families. Many Haitian TPS holders have lived in the US for decades, have US-born children, and have established deep roots in their communities. Returning to Haiti would mean leaving behind their families and starting over in a country still struggling to recover from the 2010 earthquake.
In light of these facts, it is clear that extending TPS for Haiti is not only the humane thing to do, but also the smart and practical thing to do. The US has a long history of granting TPS to countries in need, and Haiti is no exception. It is time for the Biden administration to take action and extend TPS for Haiti, providing much-needed relief and stability for thousands of Haitian TPS holders and their families.
As Pressley concluded in her statement, “Extending TPS for Haiti is not only the right thing to do, it is necessary to uphold our values and protect our communities. We must stand with our Haitian neighbors and ensure that they are able to continue contributing to our society and pursuing the American dream.” Let us hope that the Biden administration heeds this call and takes action to protect the rights and futures of Haitian TPS holders.
