Letter to President Obama in Response to the Earthquake in Haiti

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500


Dear Mr. President:

I write to request that you grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to undocumented Haitian nationals currently residing within the United States. The recent devastating earthquake has resulted in immeasurable loss and distress for Haitians around the world. As Public Advocate for the City of New York – a city with the second largest Haitian population in the country – I believe it is important at this critical time to ensure that Haitians can stay in this country without fear of deportation.

There is precedent for the Department of Homeland Security and the federal government granting TPS to immigrants stranded in the United States as a result of war, famine, or some other disaster in their home country. The United States government has granted TPS in the past to citizens of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia and Sudan.

Remittances constitute a critical source of revenue for families in Haiti. Granting TPS to Haitian nationals would allow them to temporarily stay in the United States without fear of deportation or detention and access better jobs and salaries. We must give all Haitians living in our country the opportunity to provide much needed financial support to their families at home.

For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully request that you grant TPS to Haitian nationals as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Bill de Blasio
Public Advocate for the City of New York