U.S. Supreme Court decision rocks Southwest Florida’s Haitian community
Uncertainty is rippling through the Southwest Florida Haitian community following a Supreme Court ruling that allows the Trump administration to proceed with the termination Temporary Protected Status for some immigrants, including Haitians.
The order limits judicial review of Department of Homeland Security decisions regarding the protective status given to immigrants from countries designated by conditions that includes an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, epidemic or other extraordinary or temporary condition, according to a National Immigration Forum fact sheet.
Haitian-American Community Coalition of Southwest Florida President Beatrice Jacquet-Castor said what has transpired is the Supreme Court has ruled that administration can make decisions regarding TPS.
“We didn’t get the decision we were looking to get with the Supreme Court. Now everyone is left in limbo,” she said.
Jacquet-Castor said that TPS was scheduled to end as of July 1. The status had provided protection for Haitians since 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake.
“It’s now more serious than it was before,” she said of conditions in Haiti.
Jacquet-Castor said they are encouraging individuals not to panic but to lobby and call their senators encouraging them to make the right decision to help those affected, a number that ranges from 38,000 to 48,000 in Southwest Florida alone.
The coalition is meeting with local pastors in an effort to help spread the word, and get their churches organized.
“Right now, we don’t know what is going to happen,” Jacquet-Castor said. “All of the organizations are trying to figure out what to do to help the people. We are looking at other programs to see if they would qualify.”
Unfortunately, she said, a lot of people who are here on TPS do not qualify for other programs, which is why they stayed under TPS.
Jacquet-Castor said they are also encouraging Haitians to prepare documents and to have a plan B ready. They are encouraging families to find someone trusted for the power of attorney for their assets to have a legal document in place.
Her office has been full as individuals learn about the outcome and seek additional information about what is available.
Jacquet-Castor is working with about 22 organizations from all over that are coming together through Zoom calls on different projects – lobbying, and calling senators to support SB4814, which would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for TPS. The bill was introduced on June 17.
They are calling senators to try to gain support for this new bill that has been proposed.
“The new bill is to try to see if we can get the people into another type of program to be able to function in the U.S.,” Jacquet-Castor said. “We are trying to get everybody to vote yes on it – call, write to their senators to pass that bill.”
She asks the community to keep Haitians and others affected in their prayers and to donate to the organization, if able.
“Right now, people aren’t going to be able to work – the work permit is expired; driver’s license is expired. They are not going to be able to actually provide for their basic needs,” Jacquet-Castor said.
She said pretty soon they will become homeless, as they will not be able to pay for their home.
“These are people that are working in our healthcare system, restaurants. The job force is going to be affected by this,” Jacquet-Castor said.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com