FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kim Atterbury | [email protected] | (202) 629-5750
National Urban League Statement on Trump Administration’s Announcement to End TPS for 50,000 Haitian Nationals
WASHINGTON, DC (November 21, 2017) – National Urban League President and CEO, Marc H. Morial, released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s plan to deport 50,000 Haitian nationals:
“Once again, the Trump Administration has pulled the rug out from under law-abiding immigrants seeking refuge within America’s borders by announcing the deportation of nearly 50,000 Haitian nationals.
“A repatriation of this magnitude will permanently disrupt the country’s fragile recovery as it continues to struggle to rebuild its infrastructure, improve public health, and develop suitable housing for the 1.5 million people left homeless by the 2010 earthquake. This crisis was made worse by Hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Maria, all Category 5 storms that completely reversed the little progress gained over the past seven years.
“Collectively, these storms caused significant loss of life, prolonged power outages, food and water insecurity, increased susceptibility to communicable and water borne diseases, loss of crops, and millions of dollars in property damage; in addition to, the internal displacement of 180,000 people in Haiti.
“Terminating TPS for Haitian nationals at this time will be overly burdensome on the country. The Haitian government is challenged to find adequate shelter, food, and jobs for its current residents. Adding to that strain by deporting 50,000 people over the next 18 months will have disastrous economic effects, as the country is simply not prepared to receive an influx of people—particularly with the looming threat of Cholera.
“This decision by the Trump administration intentionally and carelessly sends vulnerable people back into the eye of a storm.
“It is imperative that Haitian nationals seek legal counsel to try to extend their protected status, and for Congress to pass immigration reform legislation that will put an end to mass deportations of seemingly only Black and Brown immigrants.”
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