HAITIAN RECEIVED TPS for 18 more month
New Designation Allows Eligible Haitians to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization
WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced a new 18-month designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This new TPS designation enables Haitian nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Haiti) currently residing in the United States as of May 21, 2021 to file initial applications for TPS, so long as they meet eligibility requirements.
“Haiti is currently experiencing serious security concerns, social unrest, an increase in human rights abuses, crippling poverty, and lack of basic resources, which are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “After careful consideration, we determined that we must do what we can to support Haitian nationals in the United States until conditions in Haiti improve so they may safely return home.”
After consultation with interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas decided to designate Haiti for TPS due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti that prevent nationals from returning safely, specifically, a political crisis and human rights abuses; serious security concerns; and the COVID-19 pandemic’s exacerbation of a dire economic situation and lack of access to food, water, and healthcare. The persistent effects of the 2010 earthquake have also exacerbated the severity of the extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti currently. The designation of Haiti for TPS also is not contrary to the national interest of the United States. A country may be designated for TPS based upon one or more of the three statutory grounds for designation: ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary and temporary conditions.
It is important to note that TPS will apply only to those individuals who are already residing in the United States as of May 21, 2021 and meet all other requirements. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after this announcement will not be eligible for TPS and may be repatriated. Haiti’s 18-month designation will go into effect on the publication date of the Federal Register notice to come shortly. The Federal Register notice will provide instructions for applying for TPS and employment authorization documentation.
Individuals eligible for TPS under Haiti’s new designation must file an application for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the registration period that will begin upon publication of the Federal Register notice. This includes current beneficiaries under Haiti’s TPS designation, who will need to file a new application to register for TPS to ensure they do not lose TPS or experience a gap in coverage. Individuals filing for TPS may also request an Employment Authorization Document and travel authorization. All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility.
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano initially designated Haiti for TPS in January 2010 based on extraordinary and temporary conditions within the country, specifically the effects of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake. In 2011, Haiti’s designation was extended, and the country was also redesignated for TPS at the same time. Haiti’s designation was subsequently extended again for 18 months in 2013 and 2015, and for an additional six months in 2017.
In January 2018, a Federal Register notice announced termination of Haiti’s TPS designation effective July 22, 2019. Four separate lawsuits challenged that termination. Due to court injunctions and other rulings, TPS for Haiti remains in effect pending case outcomes. Existing TPS Haiti beneficiaries retain their TPS and TPS-related documents through October 4, 2021, and DHS will continue to extend the benefit and documents if required to comply with court orders. These beneficiaries are also eligible to apply under the new designation of Haiti to receive TPS for the entire 18-month period that will be described in the soon-to-be published Federal Register notice.
Family Action Network Movement (FANM) Applauds The Biden Administration’s Redesignation of TPS For Haitians
May 22, 2021
MIAMI, FL- Today, the Biden Administration announced it would redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Haitians currently residing in the United States. This could allow over 100,000 Haitians to remain in the United States with legal standing. Eligible immigrants have 180 days to apply for TPS and must prove they entered the United States before May 22, 2021. Once granted, their TPS status would last for up to 18 months. FANM applauds this decision and stands ready to assist members with the application process.
A redesignation will benefit Haitians who came to the U.S. after the earthquake. Close to 2000 Haitian refugees/immigrants, including hundreds of children, have been deported on thirty-four flights to Haiti since the beginning of February 2021. In recent months, Haitians have been the victims of violent killings, skyrocketing kidnappings, rape/gender-based violence, and heavy repression from state-aligned forces reminiscent of the Duvalier and other dictatorships in Haiti.
Marleine Bastien, Executive Director of Family Action Network Movement (FANM), stated, "We applaud and commend the Biden Administration's decision to redesignate TPS for Haiti. During a recent march in Washington on May 18th and a meeting with White House and DHS officials Thursday evening, I sent a strong message to President Biden that given the deteriorating political situation in Haïti including state sponsored massacres, kidnapping/killing of political opponents , widespread raping of women and girls , it was time to redesignate Haiti for TPS and that “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied.”””
Steve Forester, Immigration Policy Coordinator for the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), said, “Haiti’s redesignation for TPS recognizes that extraordinary conditions of political and social crisis and insecurity make deportations to Haiti unsafe and redesignation appropriate. We applaud the administration, which since February 1 has expelled about 2,000 Haitians on 34 flights, for this long overdue and entirely appropriate action.”
Over the past 4 years, FANM and its partners have built an extensive and sustainable campaign around TPS redesignation for Haïti . Consequently, over 100,000 families and their children will finally have a good night's sleep tonight and this is priceless. We have targeted elected officials, rallied in front of ICE buildings , held press conferences, provided educational resources, launched petitions/ social media campaigns but most importantly, organized members of our community who would directly benefit from TPS.
Ynnocent, an undocumented immigrant from Haiti said, “ I came to the U.S. in 2012 because I was facing political persecution. I’m unable to work to care for my U.S. born daughter because I’m undocumented. I applaud the Biden Administration decision to grant TPS to Haiti because now I and the 100,000 undocumented Haitians will be able to provide for our families.
Contact:
Rhenie Dalger,
Mariangela Cordero,
Family Action Network Movement (FANM) formerly known as Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami, Inc)/ Haitian Women of Miami is a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to the social, economic, financial and political empowerment of low to moderate-income families.
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Brooklyn Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegal Distribution of Narcotics
Defendant Prescribed Narcotics to Patients Without a Legitimate Medical Purpose in Exchange for Cash Payments
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Kesler Dalmacy, a medical doctor, pleaded guilty to illegal distribution of controlled substances. Dalmacy, who operated his medical practice out of an office in East Flatbush, prescribed narcotics to patients outside the course of his professional practice that lacked a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly.
Mark J. Lesko, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ray Donovan, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and Kevin P. Bruen, Acting Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP), announced the guilty plea.
“The defendant, a medical doctor who swore an oath to do no harm, spread the scourge of addiction in our communities by writing bogus prescriptions for personal profit,” stated Acting United States Attorney Lesko. “This Office, in partnership with the DEA, HSI, NYPD and NYSP, will spare no effort in combatting the illegal distribution of addictive drugs, and in holding medical professionals like the defendant accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” Mr. Lesko also thanked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement for their assistance during the investigation.
“Another day, another doctor disguised as a drug dealer. The defendant not only prescribed highly addictive controlled substances without a legitimate medical need, but also went out of his way to attempt to evade law enforcement. Today’s plea demonstrates that the defendant is taking responsibility for betraying the trust of his patients, his community, and his oath,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Donovan. “I commend the New York Division, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force, Tactical Diversion Squad, the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, and our many law enforcement partners for their dedication, hard-work, and attention to the investigation and prosecution of this defendant.”
“The opioid epidemic our country continues to battle is exacerbated when unscrupulous individuals seek to profit from those struggling with addiction,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh. “The defendant exploited the weaknesses of fellow human beings in order to line his own pockets. HSI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our pursuit to safeguard the public and hold individuals like Dr. Dalmacy accountable.”
“The primary work of a medical practitioner is to help patients. The work of this doctor did nothing but harm his victims, with no regard for their health. By taking payment for prescriptions, Dr. Dalmacy put his patients and the community he served at risk. I thank our law enforcement partners involved in this investigation, and together we will work to keep drugs off our streets, prevent prescription drug abuse and senseless deaths,” stated NYSP Acting Superintendent Bruen.
As set forth in the criminal complaint and court filings, between January 2014 and February 2020, Dr. Dalmacy illegally prescribed to patients thousands of pills of highly addictive controlled substances, including Adderall and Vicodin, in exchange for cash payments. Dr. Dalmacy wrote these prescriptions outside the course of his professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. To conceal the unauthorized prescriptions from law enforcement and oversight agencies, Dr. Dalmacy postdated prescriptions and provided multiple prescriptions to the same individual under different or fictitious names.
The arrest of Dr. Dalmacy is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the DEA. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
This case is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York as part of the Prescription Drug Initiative. In January 2012, this Office and the DEA, in conjunction with the five District Attorneys in this district, the Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments, the NYPD and the New York State Police, along with other key federal, state and local government partners, launched the Initiative to mount a comprehensive response to what the HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called an epidemic increase in the abuse of so-called opioid analgesics. To date, the Initiative has brought over 160 federal and local criminal prosecutions, including the prosecution of 20 health care professionals; taken civil enforcement actions against a hospital, a pharmacy and pharmacy chain; removed prescription authority from numerous rogue doctors; and expanded information-sharing among enforcement agencies to better target and pursue drug traffickers. The Initiative also is involved in an extensive community outreach program to address the abuse of pharmaceuticals.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julia Nestor and Dylan A. Stern.
The Defendant:
DR. KESLER DALMACY
Age: 70
Brooklyn, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-258 (AMD)
John Marzulli United States Attorney’s Office (718) 254-6323
Haiti authorizes use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as deaths, infections rise
May 19, 2021 02:39 PM,
Haiti has authorized the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine as COVID-19 cases surge following months of delays in getting shots to protect against the virus in the troubled Caribbean nation.
Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, assistant director of World Health Organization’s Americas branch, told journalists Wednesday that the president of Haiti informed them that the country will accept the AstraZeneca vaccine. The government had previously expressed concerns about the shot’s safety following reports of clotting and had banned it from being used, despite being offered free doses.
“Yesterday, we received the confirmation from the minister of health that Haiti is sending a letter to Gavi...confirming that they will receive the 130,000 doses that are available to Haiti,” he said.
Gavi is the vaccine alliance that co-runs the COVAX Facility, a United Nations-backed platform created to get COVID-19 vaccines to middle- and low-income countries. Haiti is among 10 countries in the Americas that qualify to receive free vaccines for 20% of its population, but its government, expressing concern about the AstraZeneca shots, was delayed in fulfilling the necessary steps to allow for its import and distribution.
Haiti’s total allocation under COVAX for its 11.5 million population is 756,000 doses.
The reversal of the Haitian government’s decision comes as the reported number of COVID-19 cases rise there and in several other countries throughout the region, a surge that is leading to panic.
“Three out of the five countries with the highest numbers of new infections are in the Americas,” said Dr. Carissa Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization. “And many Caribbean islands — like the Bahamas, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago — are seeing COVID deaths double in the last week.”
The country has reported a total of 13,598 confirmed cases and 276 deaths as of May 15, according to the Ministry of Health’s latest report. The numbers, however, are believed to be an undercount, and anecdotally Haitians are reporting an increase in people experiencing fevers. One of the few hospitals treating COVID-19 cases confirmed a spike in hospitalization. Last year, some hospitals shuttered their virus wards because of low demand.
Barbosa confirmed that Haiti is not currently using any COVID-19 vaccines, making it the last country in Latin America and the Caribbean to eventually begin administering shots. While Cuba is working on the creation of its own vaccine and is not part of COVAX, and hasn’t distributed vaccines to the larger population, it is providing shots as part of its initial trial.
Barbosa said that after receiving written confirmation of the approval, his office will start negotiations with the producer to “have this vaccine deployed as soon as possible to the country.”
Haiti’s vaccines were supposed to be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, which was ordered by the Indian government to halt exports of AstraZeneca amid India’s alarming surge in cases. For weeks, representatives of the World Health Organization and others have been in talks with the India government, hoping to allow the pharmaceutical giant to fulfill its manufacturing commitment to COVAX.
On Monday, the head of the World Health Organization, recognizing the surge in cases in India and other hot spots, said there is a shortfall in vaccine supplies and COVAX “is dependent on countries and manufacturers honoring their commitments.”
“Once the devastating outbreak in India recedes, we also need the Serum Institute of India to get back on track and catch up on its delivery commitments to COVAX,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.