Miami’s Haitian-American Commissioner urges Obama Administration to extend status for Haitian nationals

Miami – On February 15, 2011, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved two resolutions sponsored by Commissioner Jean Monestime calling on the Obama Administration to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitians who came to the United States prior to the devastating earthquake of 2010 and allow Haitians already issued visas to enter the US.

“Homeland Security should provide the beleaguered people of Haiti some reprieve considering the dire circumstances there,” explained Commissioner Monestime. “The American people – especially in Miami-Dade – have opened their hearts and homes to the traumatized, injured, and suffering people of Haiti. The Federal government can show the same compassion by extending TPS to those Haitians already here and lift the immigration cap so that Haitians already approved for visas be allowed to enter the country.”

It has been reported that approximately 55,000 Haitian nationals have filed applications for TPS, but it is estimated that between 70,000 and 100,000 Haitian nationals currently in the U.S. are eligible for TPS, but have not yet applied. Temporary Protected Status is set to expire in July of this year.

Another 55,000 have approved visas but may not be eligible for entry for up to twelve years from now.