The Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday that the more than 58,000 Haitian immigrants who were given protection since their island nation was devastated by an earthquake in January 2010 will have six more months in the United States without fear of deportation.
The decision by DHS came after a large advocacy push by organizations and Florida lawmakers from both parties. Tuesday is the deadline for DHS to publish a 60-day notice in the Federal Register announcing the plan for the program.
In April, James McCament, acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in an internal memo after an extension of the temporary protection program for Haitians until January 2018, the program would not be extended again.
In a conference call with reporters, a senior DHS official said the agency is not commenting on that memo, but said the six month extension is a way to give those recipients time to “resolve their affairs.”
The temporary program “can’t go on in perpetuity,” the official said.
There are currently 10 countries that are part of the temporary protected status program. The program is designated by Congress and is not a path to permanent residency.
