The Embassy of Haiti Hosts Congressional Dinner to Address the Renewal of TPS for Haitians
In the framework of the Haitian government’s efforts to encourage the U.S. government to renew the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) granted to Haitians following the January 2010 earthquake, a status which is slated to expire on January 22, 2018, the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C. hosted members of Congress for a working dinner on the evening of Tuesday, September 12. In addition to the elected officials, the dinner brought together representatives of civil society organizations engaged in the movement to renew TPS for Haitians.
According to Ambassador Paul Altidor, this initiative, both by the profile of the guests and the depth of the conversations, reflects the Haitian government’s desire to create a synergy between the various forces advocating for the renewal of TPS. The members of Congress in attendance expressed their willingness to provide their full support to the TPS dossier. Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, declared that Haitians in general are exemplary citizens, and he is therefore ready to provide his unwavering support to the TPS renewal movement.
According to some of Haiti’s most prominent and veteran advocates in the U.S. Congress, among them representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson and Alcee Hastings, defending the Haitian cause in the United States has never been easy. For this reason, in addition to their own political support, the elected officials expressed the need for a strong engagement of the Haitian Diaspora in the TPS matter.
The members of Congress also pointed out that in the context of the upcoming 2018 legislative and local elections in the United States, the Haitian Diaspora must put their weight in the balance, even those who are not directly affected by TPS. Congressman Sanford Bishop, Representative of Georgia’s 2nd District, stated that Haitians are an undeniable force in some states and districts, and must use this as an asset for the TPS renewal campaign. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Representative of Texas’s 18th District and member of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, asserted that the business community, academia, churches, healthcare workers, and airport workers must make their voices heard to mobilize support for the renewal of TPS.
During the dinner, participants also discussed the idea that TPS holders must express themselves and tell their personal stories in order to sensitize ordinary American citizens who are not familiar with the issue, so they know that TPS recipients are their neighbors, classmates, co-workers, fellow churchgoers, and healthcare providers. The representatives of the civil society organizations advocating for TPS renewal, among them the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), the Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA), and the Open Society Foundations, all affirmed the merits of such a strategy.
The members of Congress reiterated their willingness to put all their political weight in the balance to help the Haitian government obtain an extension of TPS for 18 months. For instance, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Representative of New York’s 9th District, informed the group that she plans to reach out to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other entities within Congress to enlist their support.
This working dinner held at the Embassy of Haiti was the first of a series of such activities to be hosted at the Embassy with key stakeholders as the TPS renewal movement intensifies. It was also the first major meeting between the various actors advocating for the renewal of TPS since the announcement by the Embassy of the creation of a TPS Taskforce and the setting up of a hotline to provide legal guidance to TPS beneficiaries. TPS, which was granted to Haitians following the earthquake of January 12, 2010, expires on January 22, 2018. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security must announce its decision on the renewal of TPS for Haitians at the end of November 2017.
New York Congresswoman Says Push to Defend Temporary Protected Status Underway
U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) says that she and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer are putting pressure on President Donald Trump to come up with a solution for recipients of the Temporary Protected Status program, which benefits people from countries experiencing humanitarian crises.
TPS, which is run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provides sanctuary and work authorization to foreign nationals fleeing disaster or violence at home. Amid the push to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for undocumented youth brought to the United States in their early childhood, congressional Democrats have been looking toformulate a strategyto get Trump to extend TPS.
On Monday, acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Dukeannouncedthat Sudanese recipients will have to leave the U.S. by November 2, 2018 on the grounds that “conditions in Sudan no longer support its designation.” She said that extending Sudan’s TPS status for another year will allow “for an orderly transition.” But sheextendedSouth Sudan’s designation until May 2, 2019 due to the fact that the “ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary temporary conditions” that brought about the 2016 TPS pre-designation have continued.
Both countries’ TPS statuses were set to expire on November 2.
Clarke, the first congresswoman of Caribbean descent, told the Observer at “Moment of Truth: Where America Stands on Immigration,” a forum in Manhattan earlier this week, that she had a conversation with Schumer and that he understands TPS “intimately” because many of his constituents are currently protected under TPS.
Big change in the process for U.S. visas
In a document transferred to U.S. embassies around the world, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced that from now on, visitors who need a visa to enter the United States will have to declare what they plan to do during their stay in the United States, which may not exceed three months.
During these three months, the recipients of a tourist visa can only do what they declared during their interview to obtain their visa. They cannot marry American citizens, go to school, or work, if they don’t want to be considered as individuals who came to United States with the intention to lie, or deceive immigration officials.
If fraud is discovered, they would be liable to deportation.
And that's not all!
Somebody who comes to the United States as a tourist, falls in love and gets married within 90 days, and proceeds to asks for a green card will have their application turned down, according to Diane Rish, Deputy Director of Governmental Relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "This is a significant change of policy."
These measures are within the framework of Donald Trump's strategy to significantly reduce the flow of illegal and legal immigrants in the United States. These new rules do not however apply to the citizens of 38 countries - including Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan - which do not need visas to return in the USA.
Haitian President backs Paris climate accord, calls on UN to honour commitments on tackling cholera
UN News Centre - 21 September 2017 – Addressing the United Nations General Assembly today, Jovenel Moise, President of Haiti, expressed deep commitment to the environmental targets in the global goals on sustainable development and said his island nation is seeking to build its resilience against the natural disasters and extreme weather events that consistently beleaguer its people and other countries in the Caribbean.
“My Government is committed to theParis Agreementon climate change,” Mr. Moise told delegations gathered for the Assembly’s annual general debate, adding that he wished to see those countries most responsible for greenhouse gas production contribute the resources necessary for implementing that accord.
In the Caribbean, recent back-to-back extreme weather events had drawn attention to the ways in which climate affects Haiti. “Such weather phenomena are due to the impact of humans on the environment,” he stressed, and noted that in January 2018, when Haiti assumed the presidency of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), it would organize a regional conference aimed at establishing an inter-State commission that would devise a strategy for addressing climate issues, such as the availability of climate insurance.
More broadly, he said Haiti has taken steps to consolidate democracy and the rule of law, having made significant efforts to promote development and political stability. Noting that corruption has “infected” and eroded Haiti’s economy, and compromised its political situation, he said it is time that official development assistance (ODA) and domestic resources upheld the interests of the Haitian nation. In the meantime, Haiti’s new leaders are waging an unwavering struggle against corruption.
Addressing two phenomena stemming from the UN presence in Haiti – heinous sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers and other personnel, and the cholera epidemic – he said the Organization is morally obliged to provide the recourses to ensure that cholera left the country.
Improving Haiti’s health system, including by eradicating cholera, is a Government priority for his Despite some progress, the number of cholera victims stood at 10,000 people and continued to grow. Further, there were tens of thousands of cholera orphans. The United Nations must live by and give tangible form to its noble ideals, including the announced ‘new approach’ to dealing with cholera, he stressed, by shouldering all its responsibilities to remedy the situation, which had caused grave harm to the Haitian people.
President Moïse is assaulted with rocks – The police has to evacuate the head of state
While attending an improvised pro-governmental rally on the road to the Airport, President Jovenel Moïse got caught at an intersection near the Airport, where unidentified people threw stones at him, according to witnesses.
The rocks were aimed at the president’s procession. This provoked deep tensions in the area, in spite of a strong police presence.
Returning from New York after his participation in the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations, the Head of State walked from the Toussaint Louverture International Airport at the head of a crowd of sympathizers of the Haitian Party Tèt Kale (Phtk). He was quickly evacuated from the tense environment.
Passers-by, small shopkeepers, and students who were heading home were also victims, following an intervention by the police.
Upon his arrival, the president was accompanied by several members of his government, in particular Aviol Fleurant, Secretary of Planning and External Cooperation.
A crowd of sympathizers of the Head of State came to welcome him, some of whom wore shirts with his picture.
There were also several individuals in military fatigues, claiming to be members of the Armed Forces of Haiti, who came to support Moïses. The Haitian Armed Forces of Haiti has been defunct for more than 20 years. In a later press release, the Ministry of Defense expressed regret for this display.
Protest against President Jovenel Moïse last Wednesday night in Brooklyn, and on Thursday in front of the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan
Brooklyn, September 21st 2017-(AHP) - Everything had apparently started well at l'Eglise Chrétienne Croisade Evangélique of Pastor Nicholas, who is presumed to be close to President Jovenel Moïse.
Moïse was able, on apparently friendly territory, to attack his opponents and to praise the 2017-2018 budget rejected by almost all of the sectors of the country. This budget, he said, is going to boost the economy of the country, by attacking those whom he tried to present as corrupt.
As a result, he promised to intensify the fight against corruption under the applauses of a hand-selected public, which already supported his cause. He also praised the fact that today, in Haiti, there are 16 points where passports are delivered, compared to only one previously, he said.
Jovenel Moïse praised his good relationship with the parliament, a parliament which voted for "forty laws" in 7 months, but which also voted with blindfolds for the text of the financial law which penalizes the poorest, according to numerous sectors, and which puts him, the president, in an extremely complicated situation.
But, barely out of the partisanship atmosphere of Pastor Nicholas’s church, the Head of State fell in a bees’ nest with about a hundred people who waited for him, shouting of "Down with Jovenel!” “Cancel your budget, assassin.” “Return our $1.50.”
They also made it known that “President Moïses is going to pay dearly for his arrogance and his refusal to compromise."
Several protestors denounced the complicity which exists between Moïse and former Senator Edwin Zenny who called to assassinate members of five families from the private business sector, among whom are the Vorbes and Rouzier, whom he holds responsible for financing protests throughout the country.
Another protest took place on Thursday, September 21st in front of the United Nations where Jovenel Moïse made a speech, stating that he planned to restore Haiti’s army, and that the United Nations had to compensate Haiti for having introduced cholera into the country.