CNN)The Biden administration on Saturday granted humanitarian protection for Haitians in the United States, allowing an estimated 100,000 people to apply to remain lawfully in the US, according to the Department of Homeland Security and an administration official.
The decision will allow Haitians in the US the opportunity to apply for Temporary Protected Status — a form of humanitarian relief that can be granted when it is deemed unsafe to return to one’s home country.Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced a new 18-month designation for the humanitarian program. Eligible Haitian nationals currently residing in the US as of May 21 will be able to apply for the protections.“Haiti is currently experiencing serious security concerns, social unrest, an increase in human rights abuses, crippling poverty, and lack of basic resources, which are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mayorkas said in a statement.President Joe Biden tweeted a link to the announcement Saturday, writing, “Today my Administration announced a new 18 month designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.”BuzzFeed was the first to report on the decision.TPS can be granted by the Secretary of Homeland Security in instances in which individuals cannot be safely removed to their home country due to temporary conditions in the country, such as armed conflict, environmental disasters or other extreme circumstances.
DHS officials will soon file a notice in the Federal Register to allow for Haitians in the US currently to obtain the protections.
Source: Biden administration grants humanitarian protections to Haitians in the US – CNNPolitics
