Human rights defender Guerline Jozef described an alarming situation for Haitians living in the United States, as the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has expired.
“Haitians are living under a cloud of terror, a cloud of trauma, a cloud of stress, not knowing which way to turn, because at any moment an ICE agent can step in to arrest them and deport them,” said Guerline Jozef during her appearance on the show Panel Magik, this Tuesday, July 28.
According to her, the consequences of ending TPS go far beyond the roughly 350,000 Haitian beneficiaries. “This situation will also affect more than four million Haitians living in Haiti who rely on financial support from their relatives in the United States. It’s more than a tragedy,” she lamented.Ms. Jozef points out that many TPS beneficiaries no longer have housing in Haiti, as their homes were burned down by armed groups. She reminds that the end of the program also means losing work authorization, the right to legally reside in the U.S., and, in several states, certain driving privileges.
“The reality today is that Haitians whose TPS has ended face the risk of arrest, detention, and deportation,” she warned. She specifically advises people without a valid driver’s license to avoid driving to reduce the risk of being stopped.The person in charge of Haitian Bridge Alliance also encourages affected families to prepare an emergency plan. This involves gathering important documents and giving them to a trusted person in case of arrest by ICE agents.
She also advises TPS recipients to consult an immigration lawyer or an organization that defends migrants’ rights. According to her, some people may be eligible for other forms of protection, but each situation needs to be looked at individually.On the legal side, Ms. Jozef said that the TPS case file was sent back by a judge from the Washington, D.C. district to Judge Ana Reyes. “We don’t know yet when she will make her decision, but she has to follow the Supreme Court’s order and issue a final ruling,” she explained.
Asked about whether the legal team could change their request before Judge Reyes, Guerline Jozef thinks there’s very little room to maneuver. “She can express disagreement, but she can’t change the Supreme Court’s decision,” she said.
According to the activist, the lawyers are still exploring all possible legal avenues. However, at this stage, they are bound to follow the decision made by the Supreme Court.
