Biden admin offers 'temporary amnesty' to over 300,000 Haitians already in US

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has announced that "temporary amnesty" will be granted to illegal immigrants from Haiti already in the United States. Around 309,000 people who fit that description will be allowed to remain in the country for another 18 months after the Temporary Protected Status for Haitians ends on August 4.

The DHS argued that the extension was warranted "because the conditions that support Haiti's designation are ongoing and that doing so was not contrary to the national interest of the United States." Since violence broke out earlier this year, hundreds of thousands have fled to nearby countries and the US. The country's government has essentially been replaced by gangs.

"We are providing this humanitarian relief to Haitians already present in the United States given the conditions that existed in their home country as of June 3, 2024," Mayorkas said in a statement. "In doing so, we are realizing the core objective of the TPS law and our obligation to fulfill it."
 

The DHS explained that "several regions in Haiti continue to face violence or insecurity, and many have limited access to safety, health care, food, and water. Haiti is particularly prone to flooding and mudslides, and often experiences significant damage due to storms, flooding, and earthquakes. These overlapping humanitarian challenges have resulted in ongoing urgent humanitarian needs."

Only those who entered the US prior to June 3 will be eligible for the extension, and those from Haiti who made the journey north after that date and fail to establish legal basis for remaining in the US will be deported back to their home country.

As the Associated Press reports, while the situation in Haiti has continued to deteriorate over the past few weeks, efforts have been made to put an end to the gang warfare wreaking havoc on the island nation. Recently, a police force from Kenya was dispatched to help combat gang activity.