Brooklyn, NY – Yesterday, Acting Secretary Elaine Duke announced that the State Department would no longer grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians after this most recent extension. This decision was made after former Secretary of Homeland Security, now Chief of Staff to the President, John Kelly announced earlier in May that he would extend the status of Haitians under this program for an additional six-months bringing the deadline to January of 2018. "I am equally saddened and angered to learn of this administration's decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of 60,000 Haitians," said Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte, daughter of Haitian Immigrants. "For anyone that has been to Haiti in recent months, it is clear that the Administration's decision does not coincide with the dangerous reality on the ground. The return of tens of thousands of people is only going to make conditions worse. Furthermore, it would be equally dangerous for the other hundreds of thousands of Central Americans who don't know any life other than their life in the US. In addition, for both Haitians and Central Americans, their economic contributions to both the US and their home countries will now be lost. The fight must continue to address these inhumane and unconstitutional decisions." According to the Miami Herald the permanent termination for this program ends July 22, 2019. Any Haitian that had TPS status that remains after the July 22nd deadline faces possible detention and deportation. TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS

• If you have Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, lawyers say you should consider:
• A one-on-one meeting with an immigration lawyer to review immigration history and options.
• Honest conversations with neighbors and relatives about custody arrangements.
• Getting a Power of Attorney document.
• Come up with a contingency plan regardless of whether the status is extended for six months, or 18 months as advocates have requested.