Wilmington nonprofit voices concerns regarding cut of protections for Haitian immigrants

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Recently, the Trump Administration announced the removal of protections for half a million Haitians, leaving them open to deportation.

The Department of Homeland Security is removing a Biden Administration decision to extend temporary protection status, also known as TPS, for Haitian immigrants.

TPS gives people legal authority to be in the country but does not help with the process of becoming a US citizen.

The decision reduces the time for TPS for Haitians from 18 to 12 months, with a new end date of August 3rd, after which deportation could be possible.

Becky Graves is the executive director of the Wilmington-based nonprofit Haiti Awake.

She said many Haitians will be forced to make major decisions due to this change.

“Making the decision to come to the United States was life-altering,” Graves said. “But now, making the decision to go back to a war torn country, as much as I believe every Haitian in their heart of hearts wants to go home, making the decision to go home right now could literally mean life or death.”

TPS for Haitian immigrants has been in place since 2010 when it was started just days after a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti.