The Trump Administration announced its decision Monday night to end , or TPS, for the nearly 50 thousand Haitian nationals who have been living in the U.S. since the 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200 thousand people.
Haitians living under TPS in the U.S. will have that protection terminated on July 22, 2019. This gives them 18 months to return to Haiti or become subject to detention and deportation.
Christina Leddin is an immigration specialist at the , which has locations in Bonita Springs and Fort Myers. She said that many of her clients came from Haiti after the earthquake seven years ago, and now, they鈥檙e concerned they may have to go back.
"I've had clients tell me their blood pressure has gone up. They're under stress; they can't sleep," Leddin said. "I've told them, 鈥楯ust take a deep breath. We'll take it one step at a time.鈥欌��
Then- Sec. John Kelly gave a to TPS for Haitians back in May that is effective through Jan. 22, 2018. At the time, the DOH said Haitians should use the six months to "prepare for and arrange their departure from the United States."
Leddin says the 18-month extension is better than what she expected but is still not good news to most of these families.
鈥淔irst, we got that six months. Now, we鈥檝e got 18 months, but you know, it鈥檚 a lot of just calming of fears," Leddin says. "And, then, now, of course, knowing 'When can I reapply?' But, we can't do it yet."
Countries can be designated for TPS if there is an armed conflict or natural disaster that makes it unsafe to return home. Right now, that includes Haiti and nine other nations.
Of the more than 400,000 people living in the U.S. with TPS, 44,000 from Haiti, El Salvador and Honduras live in Florida.
Many of the Haitians living and working here send money home. In fact, the World Bank concluded that nearly came from money sent from family members abroad.
Leddin says the current financial situation makes her doubt Haiti has improved enough to send some 50 thousand people back to the island any time soon.
You can hear Leddin's full thoughts in the from earlier this week.
Copyright 2020 WGCU. To see more, visit . 9(MDAyNDY5MjM1MDEyODE2MzMyMTZmZDQwMg001))
