Haitian ‘temporary’ refugees to test Trump’s
resolve on immigration, by Ann Corcoran
4/24/17
I’ve written about ‘Temporary Protected
Status’ over the years as a side issue here
at RRW. But, like the Diversity Visa Lottery, it begs for
more attention from some intrepid wannabe blogger who should take on the issue
as a sole priority and really do it justice.
TPS is basically a scam, it is
rarely temporary! The US, in its humanitarian zeal (supposedly), allows certain
nationals who got in to the US in some other way (usually illegally) to stay if
their home country cannot take them back for some extenuating reason (big
storm, earthquake, civil war). Under TPS, these nationals become temporary
refugees allowed to stay and work in America.
Then every 18 months, a TPS
designation is extended for another 18 months and this can go on for years. Click here to learn more and see the countries eligible for this special deal
right now. Note that Hondurans have had their special status extended
ever since 1999. El Salvador since 2001.
And, since we have such a huge
refugee program from Somalia, I have never understood why Somalis have TPS.
At one point, during the Bush
presidency (when he was extending again some TPS designation), I came to
understand that those countries, like El Salvador, loved this program because
their people working legally in the US were propping up the Salvadoran economy
with their remittances (money sent out of the US economy to the third world
country).
Here is the latest from the Miami Herald. You see what happens, after years and years in the
US, these people have jobs, houses, kids in school and they use that argument—you
can’t possibly be so mean to send us back now—against us!
BTW, all of those on TPS had their
hopes dashed when the ‘Gang of Eight’ legislation failed in Congress a few
years ago. They were hoping for amnesty so they would never have to leave.
Miami Herald: The Trump
administration is recommending sending tens of thousands of Haitians back to
their homeland because it believes conditions have significantly improved in
the disaster-prone, poverty-stricken nation.
James McCament, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, said Temporary Protected Status, the immigration relief that has
allowed Haitians to live and work freely in the United States, should be
terminated. The Obama administration
granted the status following the earthquake, which left more than 300,000 dead,
1.5 million injured and an equal number homeless.
“Conditions in Haiti no longer
support its designation for TPS,” McCament said in a memo to U.S. Department of
Homeland Secretary John F. Kelly obtained by the Miami Herald.
McCament’s recommendations came as a
surprise to many, including Haitian and immigration advocates who have been
pushing for the extension of TPS before July 22, when it is up for renewal.
Help OUR economy? Someone should do a study
about how much of our money leaves our economy through remittances!
“TPS beneficiaries contribute greatly to our economy,” said attorney
Cheryl Little, whose Americans for Immigrant Justice organization also
represents some of the estimated 300,000 Central Americans who have been
enjoying the special status since 1999. “They
are growing our economy and to suddenly say, ‘There is a new sheriff in town,
pack your bags,’ it’s heartless and it’s stupid.”
The Center for American Progress had been closely monitoring the
decision on Haiti because it’s the “first test of this administration’s
commitment to handle TPS determinations in an apolitical manner that respects
human rights and the letter of the law,” said Tom Jawetz, the center’s vice
president for immigration policy.
It is a test for CAP and a test for
those of us who supported Trump’s campaign promises! Continue here for lots more at the Miami Herald clearly advocating
for Haitians to stay!
One last thing! TPS allows those so
designated to live and work here as if they were legal immigrants. And, it
allows them to get drivers’ licenses. It does not allow them to vote, but
with drivers’ licenses, who is going to stop them? Share this:
https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/2017/04/24/haitian-temporary-refugees-to-test-trumps-resolve-on-immigration/
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