January 15, 2010

NEW YORK – Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced today that Haitians will be granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States.

"We are very appreciative of the efforts that the Obama administration has put forth to address the situation in Haiti, including extending Temporary Protected Status to Haitians," said Erol Kekic, Director of the Immigration and Refugee Program at Church World Service. "This will be an important component of a comprehensive U.S. humanitarian response to the current crisis in Haiti."

Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, may be granted by the U.S. when requested by a foreign state that temporarily cannot handle the return of nationals due to an environmental disaster. There is a precedent for applying TPS following other natural disasters: the U.S. extended TPS to Honduran and Nicaraguan nationals following Hurricane Mitch in 1998, and to Salvadoran nationals after the earthquake in 2001.

Church World Service is engaged in relief efforts currently underway in Haiti following the airport, and has also historically provided assistance to the Haitian population in the U.S. through its Miami office. CWS will provide legal assistance with TPS. More information will be available soon at http://www.churchworldservice.org/immigration/.

To support CWS Haiti earthquake assistance efforts, please visit http://www.churchworldservice.org/, or phone 1-800-297-1516.

Church World Service