At Bethany French Baptist Church in Elmont, five days ahead of the Feb. 3 expiration, Rep. Laura Gillen called on the Department of Homeland Security to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.
Members of Nassau County’s Haitian community, Rev. Edy Bichotte and other advocates joined Gillen, who’s district covers a large portion of Nassau County’s South Shore.
She said TPS has allowed thousands of Haitians to legally remain in the United States after undergoing vetting and background checks while escaping violence and instability in their home country.
“They've worked hard, they've paid taxes, and they've contributed to our society,” Gillen said. “They deserve this protection.”
A federal immigration designation, TPS allows people from countries facing life-threatening conditions to remain in the U.S. and work legally for a limited period. Gillen said conditions in Haiti, including political upheaval, corruption and gang violence, amount to an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Gillen outlined efforts she has taken to prevent the expiration of TPS, including introducing legislation to extend the designation, supporting a discharge petition to force a House vote, joining a legal challenge to the termination of TPS and meeting with White House officials.
She said a court decision expected next week or administrative action by the federal government could still extend TPS before the deadline.
“Our government must do what's right and do something before the expiration next week,” Gillen said. “We must defend our Haitian neighbors' safety and their place in the fabric of our community.”
Community advocate and Valley Stream resident Claire Leon, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital, said Haitian families in Nassau County are living in fear and stressed that it is unsafe to return to Haiti.
“We come here in this country to look for safety and security, but when we come here, we don't get that,” Leon said. “And then we pay tax here, we have houses, we have business, our kids are born here. We deserve this like everybody else. We're not here to come take advantage.”
She noted Haitian workers are essential to health care and other services and warned that failing to extend TPS would harm both families and the local economy
