WASHINGTON, DC — Today, FWD.us Research Director Maria Garcia issued the following statement on the Biden Administration’s decision to designate Temporary Protected Status for Haiti:

“Today the Biden Administration announced a new designation of TPS for Haiti, a country facing nationwide unrest, political turmoil and severe violence. We are grateful for this long overdue step to protect Haitians in the United States, many of whom have been living in our communities for decades, have been fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have U.S. citizen children. Today’s decision will provide these families and other women, men, and children with certainty that they can safely remain in their communities. We want to thank Haitian community members including Haitian immigrants, people seeking asylum, organizers, and others in the U.S., at our borders and beyond for their resilience, and for making this designation possible. In particular, this moment would not be possible without the commitment of Haitian Bridge Alliance, UndocuBlack Network, Black Alliance for Just Immigration and other Black-led immigrant rights organizations.

“While this decision is welcome news, much more must be done to protect people seeking asylum, including Haitians, who have been stranded in Mexico and further south due to the continued harsh deterrent policies such as Title 42 and other externalization enforcement measures. The Biden Administration must immediately end its use of this policy, and provide a safe and humane way for vulnerable people to access their legal right to seek asylum at our borders. We also encourage the Biden Administration to expand their use of TPS to provide relief for more people fleeing for their lives, including individuals from Cameroon and Mauritania.”