Call for halt on deportation of Haitians living in the US

January 15 2010 by Liam Clifford

US immigration under pressure to show leniency to Haitians living in the US.

US immigration groups and lawmakers are putting the pressure on President Obama to protect Haitians living in the US illegally from being deported back to the earthquake-ravaged nation.

The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) would ensure that Haitians are not sent back to their devastated island county in the aftermath of the earthquake that has ruined its already fragile economy and killed as many as 100,000 people.

In addition to being able to remain living in the US for the meantime, they would also be able to work in the US under the TPS. This would help Haiti itself as people can work in the US and send their money home to help their families get back on their feet.

Other immigrants currently holding the status in the US include people from Sudan, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Somalia.

Senator Kirsten Gilibrand wrote to President Obama earlier in the week stating, ‘there is no way to safely return Haitian citizens to their country.’

The Department of Homeland Security says that TPS is “in a range of consideration” being looked at with regard to Haitians in the US.

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