Miami Dade County Commissioners urge President Obama to grant Temporary Protective Status to Haitian immigrants

MIAMI – On March 17, Miami-Dade County Chairman Dennis C. Moss and the entire County Commission addressed a letter to President Barack Obama, urging him to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitian immigrants who are currently in the United States. The letter calls on the President to “act now to grant fair and equal treatment for all immigrants in our community.”

Miami-Dade County officials became increasingly involved in helping the island battle several crises in 2008. Riots broke out in Haiti in April of last year when the global cost of food skyrocketed, leaving many on the island without basic staples to survive. Later, in the summer, Haiti was ravaged by four major storms. Hundreds were killed, and thousands more were left homeless as a result. Homes, infrastructure, and crops were also destroyed.

The Miami-Dade Commission responded to Haiti’s plight. On August 4, 2008, the Chairman, as well as Commissioners Barbara J. Jordan and Audrey M. Edmonson, and Dr. Larry Capp, Director of Miami-Dade’s Office of Community Advocacy, flew to Port-au-Prince to oversee the distribution of almost 20 tons of food. The goods were collected from a two-week food drive organized by the County.

The Miami-Dade delegation toured the island and distributed food to impoverished residents at a Food For The Poor facility. In September, the County Commission organized another food drive last September to benefit all Caribbean nations, including Haiti, severely affected by hurricanes. Commissioner Dorrin D. Rolle also made a recent trip to the island this past February to meet with Haitian officials on how Miami-Dade County could assist them in disaster preparations.

“The living conditions I witnessed in Haiti can only be described as absolute squalor,” said Chairman Moss. “There are Haitians living with barely a roof over their heads, with no electricity, no running water, and relegated to eating mud to survive. The County Commission cannot in good faith let Haitian immigrants already in our community to return to such impoverished conditions. There is a definite need to provide a temporary save haven to Haitians and I hope President Obama will understand this need.”

It is clear that there is not sufficient infrastructure and resources within Haiti to provide for the support of large numbers of deportees from the United States, said Rev. Dr. Harold Vieux, Chair of the Miami-Dade County Community Relations Board. Neither are the people in Haiti just waiting for a chance to risk their lives on a perilous sea crossing, he said.

“Haiti has been devastated and it is immoral to force people who are already in this community to return to those conditions. When the United States granted status to Haitian refugees in the past, there was not a huge exodus of people from the island. People risk their lives when they are left without hope. Granting of TPS to refugees who are currently in the United States, would be a source of great aide and comfort to the people of Haiti,” said Rev. Dr. Vieux.