US Bishops urge Trump Administration to extend protection for Haitians

By Devin Watkins

Over 300,000 Haitians are currently facing the termination of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on February 3, which would remove their protections as legal US residents.

The Bishops of the United States issued a statement on January 29, urging the Trump Administration to “do the right thing” regarding Haitian immigrants.

“There is simply no realistic opportunity for the safe and orderly return of people to Haiti at this time,” they wrote.

The statement was signed by Bishop Brendan Cahill, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace.

Haiti has seen a spiral of violence and lawlessness in recent years, as organized crime gangs have taken over vast swaths of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

“We are deeply concerned about the plight of our Haitian brothers and sisters living in the United States who will soon have their legal status and work authorization revoked due to the Administration’s termination of TPS for Haiti,” they said.

The Bishops pointed out that the US Department of State currently has a Level 4 travel advisory for Haiti due to “life-threatening risks,” including kidnapping, civil unrest, and terrorist activity.

The Federal Aviation Administration, the US regulatory body overseeing flight control and safety, prohibits flights from any US city to the Haitian capital.

Call for justice and mercy

In their statement, the US Bishops acknowledged that temporary protected status is indeed temporary, but renewed their calls for Congress to legislate “viable opportunities for longtime residents with TPS, regardless of nationality, to request durable legal status.”

However, they added, Congress has failed to pass such legislation, leaving the executive branch with the responsibility to “act in a just and merciful way.”

“The Trump Administration still has the opportunity to do the right thing—to safeguard human life, to uphold the law, and to promote greater stability for people in this country and beyond,” said the Bishops. “We urge the Administration to act accordingly by extending this vital relief for Haitians.”

In conclusion, the Bishops reaffirmed the US Church’s solidarity with all Haitians, both those residing in Haiti and those in the United States or elsewhere.

“We turn to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Patroness of Haiti, for her intercession,” they prayed. “May she always be a source of strength and comfort for the Haitian people.”

Spike in sexual violence over past four years

Doctors Without Borders warned recently that Haitians face an overwhelming level of sexual and gender-based violence.

The health charity said the number of people receiving treatment for sexual abuse in Port-au-Prince has tripled in the past four years.

According to a new report, the spike in sexual violence, and its severity, is shocking.

“Over 100 individuals were attacked by 10 or more perpetrators at a time,” said the report, noting an average of three perpetrators per case.

Gangs control around 90 percent of Haiti’s capital, and experts say they resort to sexual violence to instill fear and maintain control.