More than 24,000 Haitian Immigrants in Florida Could Be Deported Soon
According to figures compiled by the Migration Policy Institute, about 24,000 Haitians are currently living in the state of Florida under the provisions of temporary protected status (TPS). These immigrants typically entered the U.S. in the aftermath of natural disasters that included hurricanes, earthquakes and even an outbreak of cholera. A recent announcement by the Trump administration, however, may put the futures of these individuals and families on hold.
One Last Extension for TPS
The Trump administration has agreed to one additional extension of 18 months to the current TPS program. This will allow Haitian immigrants currently in the U.S. under the TPS program to remain in the country until July 2019, at which time many of these people will be deported back to Haiti. Estimates of the number of people affected nationwide range from 50,000 to 60,000 Haitians and as many as 300,000 people from Haiti, Honduras and El Salvador, the three countries with the largest number of participants in TPS.
Thousands of Lives Uprooted
The roughly 24,000 immigrants from Haiti who currently live in Florida have an average of 13 years of residence in the U.S. More than 10,000 children have been born in the U.S. to Haitians here under the provisions of TPS. If their parents are deported, the status of these children remains unclear. Many of those who came to the U.S. under TPS were attempting to escape the devastation caused by natural disasters and the added toll taken by political corruption in Haiti. Returning them to a nation that is still struggling financially to recover from these catastrophic events could cause an even greater humanitarian crisis in this small, poverty-stricken country.
Help May Be on the Way
Florida legislators are mounting bipartisan efforts to extend the protections of permanent legal resident status to those who fled Haiti on or before January 13, 2011. While the outcome of these efforts is not yet certain, they may offer hope for Haitian immigrants living and working in Florida. In most cases, contacting a Miami deportation lawyer immediately can provide added help for families facing the end of TPS in the near future.
At Pozo Goldstein, we offer the most comprehensive help for individuals and families in dealing with immigration and deportation issues effectively. If you need a Miami deportation lawyer to represent your case, our team of experienced and knowledgeable attorneys can provide the right solutions for your situation. Call our offices today at 305-856-0400 or toll-free at 1-888-VISA-LAW to schedule your free initial consultation. Your Miami deportation lawyer is waiting to work with you.
