City Council Requests Renewed Protection For Haitian Immigrants

This week, City Council passed a resolution to formally ask the Department of Homeland Security to extend protections for Haitian immigrants and to stop detaining Haitian nationals in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

The resolution, led by Council Member Mathieu Eugene, asks the DHS Secretary to open a new designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants in the U.S. TPS is a status that allows Haitian refugees fleeing crisis to be eligible for work authorization, and its current cycle expires in July 2017.

In addition, the resolution asks the DHS to stop detaining and deporting Haitian nationals who are fleeing the devastation from Hurricane Matthew, the strongest storm to hit Haiti in over fifty years, according to the Council.

The resolution passed in the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, December 7.

On Monday, the Immigration Committee heard from concerned citizens about the need to protect undocumented and disenfranchised New Yorkers who live in fear of getting separated from their family.

Renewed TPS will allow Haitian nationals to remain in the United States and pursue opportunities for a better future, according to Eugene, who was joined by Immigration Committee members Carlos Menchaca (Council Member for District 38 in Sunset Park), Peter Koo, and Daniel Dromm, and Council Member Jumaane Williams.

Council Member Mathieu Eugene, the first elected Haitian-born NYC Council member, represents District 40, which includes a bulk of NYC’s Haitian population in Flatbush. He has been actively working for Haitian relief efforts, including the Permanent Emergency and Disaster Organization task force, offering free legal services at his office, and speaking at public ‘Know Your Rights’ trainings.