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Take Action to Support our Haitian Brothers and Sisters October 13th, 2016
Haiti is the midst of the natural disaster, which occurred on October 4. Hurricane Matthew has left catastrophic devastating impacts on the people and properties in Haiti, neighboring nations and United States. As people of faith, we are called to welcome the stranger, stand with the vulnerable, and love our neighbor. Right now, we have a moral and legal obligation to Haitians seeking safety.
We join with other faith groups in welcoming the “put on hold” deportation plans announced by Secretary Johnson of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Matthew. However DHS plans to resume fast tracking the deportation of Haitians as soon as country conditions improve. Haiti is in no condition to receive deportees.
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Take Action to support Haitians by asking Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to re-instate Temporary Humanitarian Parole for Haitians.
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Help Support Haiti and other Caribbean nations to recover from Hurricane Matthew. This call to action is sponsored by Catholic Relief Services.
The Missionary Oblate presence in Haiti dates back to the 1950’s and today Oblates still conduct very active mission work in the northeastern part of the country. Join us in calling on Secretary Johnson to live up to our American values by upholding our promises to the Haitian people and ensuring Haitians can seek safety here in the United States.
Tell Congress: Cuts will Cost Lives! November 6th, 2012
As Congress returns for a Lame Duck session after the November 6 elections, your voice is needed to preserve poverty-focused international assistance during Congressional deliberations on debt reduction and appropriations legislation. Urge your Senators and Representative to pass fiscal year (FY) 2013 poverty–focused international relief and development funding at the levels passed by the Senate earlier this year. For Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Zambia, this small amount of funding that represents less than 1% of the federal budget saves millions of lives.
Read the USCCB and CRS joint Action Alert for details on how to take action (Download PDF)
Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Extended and Redesignated May 27th, 2011
The Obama Administration has announced an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians Effective July 23, 2011, this will allow TPS beneficiaries to remain in the United States through January 22, 2013.
DHS Secretary Napolitano has, in addition, re-designated Haiti for TPS, advancing the eligibility date by a year, meaning that eligible Haitians who have continuously resided in the U.S. since January 12, 2011 may also apply for TPS. This will enable thousands of post-quake arrivals, many evacuated by U.S. forces, to apply for TPS and work permits.
The Administration deserves thanks for these timely and generous decisions.
Haitian Immigrant Deportations Should Be Halted April 1st, 2011
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has resumed deportations to Haiti, a development about which we are deeply concerned. Deportations place an unnecessary burden on Haiti, which is still struggling to recover from the devastating earthquake of January 2010. Reconstruction continues in the country, but at a very slow pace, with hundreds of thousands of people still living in tent cities. What is worse is that Haiti’s jails, where the Haitian government usually holds deportees, are notorious for their inhumane treatment of detainees.
Deportations from the U.S. to Haiti had been halted on humanitarian grounds when the earthquake devastated Haiti. On January 20, 2011, the U.S. resumed deportations to Haiti, deporting an estimated 27 people of Haitian origin with criminal records. One has died already in prison from cholera-like symptoms.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Migration has expressed deep opposition to the recent resumption of deportations, citing the slow recovery from the earthquake, the recent outbreak of cholera, and concern that this would communicate the wrong message to the Haitian people, who are depending upon the United States for long-term support in their effort to recover from the earthquake.
News from the UN – July 2010 July 13th, 2010
Six Month Milestones in Haiti
It’s been six months since the earthquake devastated Haiti, and here are just a few of the milestones UNICEF is proud to have accomplished:
– 33,000 people reached daily with safe water;
– More than 275,000 children immunized against major diseases;
– Over 150 programs to provide life-saving care for 2,000 malnourished children; and
– 185,000 children reached with basic education materials and school tents.
Despite the significant progress, there is still a long and difficult road ahead for the people of Haiti. UNICEF is committed to its role in the rebuilding and recovery process and will continue doing whatever it takes to help Haiti’s children survive and thrive. Learn more about our next steps in Haiti from latest report at www.unicefusa.org
