The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns issued the following statement in response to the Biden administration's announcement that it would designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for 18 months.
May 24, 2021
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joins partner organizations in celebrating the 18-month re-designation of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti, announced by the Biden administration on Saturday, May 22.
“Maryknoll missioners in Haiti witness the unfolding three crises of violence, political corruption, and deepening poverty that make it clear that people fleeing to the United States from Haiti deserve legal protection through TPS,” said Susan Gunn, Director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. “This decision will give a pathway for vulnerable Haitians to seek refuge in the United States while their nation seeks to heal from the multiple crises it is facing, including the ongoing global pandemic.”
Maryknoll missioners work in various ministries in Haiti, including in school settings with young children and with elderly adults. The Haitian families they accompany have been affected by the protests, economic disruption, school closings, roadblocks, violence and increasing poverty that have intensified in the last year.
“Given the situation on the ground in Haiti, TPS for individuals from Haiti is warranted and necessary at this time,” continued Gunn. “Many Haitians are indeed fleeing for their lives, and it is our moral duty to welcome them. We commend the Biden administration for moving forward with a re-designation of TPS for Haitians in the United States. ”
