In a letter sent to Elaine Duke, Acting Secretary of Homeland of Security, US Democrat Senator Bill Nelson (Florida) requested that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 60,000 Haitians living in the United States be extended by 18 months after the current expiry date of January 22, 2018.

"Given Haiti’s continued recovery from the 2010 earthquake and last fall’s Category 4 hurricane, I strongly urge you to grant a full, 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for the roughly 60,000 Haitian nationals living here in the U.S.," Nelson wrote.

"Hurricane Matthew has significantly set back Haiti’s ongoing recovery efforts" Nelson added. "As you consider this request to extend TPS beyond its current expiration date of January 22, I encourage you to visit Haiti to assess the conditions on the ground there for yourself. I also encourage you to meet with Haitian leaders in Florida to discuss the importance of extending protections for those already living here."

It’s not the first time the Florida Democrat has weighed in on the issue. Nelson sent a similar letter to then-Sec. John Kelly in May calling for a full, 18 month extension.

Kelly announced that DHS had granted only a six month extension https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21016-haiti-flash-tps-extension-for-6-months-official.html instead of the full 18, meaning the nearly 60,000 Haitian nationals who have been living in the U.S. since 2011 may soon be forced to return to their homeland.

Nelson argues the U.S. should be focused on helping the island nation recover from two devastating natural disasters, instead of sending people home to a country that can’t support them.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21131-haiti-politics-congresswoman-mia-love-wishes-12-additional-months-to-tps.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21092-haiti-flash-visit-of-secretary-of-homeland-security-john-kelly.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21044-haiti-diaspora-extension-of-tps-us-senator-campbell-alarmed.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20727-haiti-flash-us-immigration-service-recommends-the-end-of-tps.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21017-haiti-usa-tps-congresswoman-wilson-continues-the-fight.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21016-haiti-flash-tps-extension-for-6-months-official.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20927-haiti-usa-renewal-of-the-tps-congress-maintains-pressure.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20895-haiti-flash-tps-the-trump-administration-investigates-the-criminal-record-of-haitians.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20859-haiti-flash-tps-2-senators-and-8-members-of-congress-write-to-john-kelly.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20727-haiti-flash-us-immigration-service-recommends-the-end-of-tps.html

SL/ HaitiLibre