As temporary protected status settlement talks stall, more than 250,000 risk deportation
The group, which includes more than 250,000 Haitians, had been promised it can stay in the United States indefinitely, rather than being forced to leave
By Alixandra Dorsette and Matt Viserly
ROME, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Thousands of Haitians in the United States would risk deportation if they are forced to leave the country’s newest temporary protected status, as U.S. and aid groups sought concessions to ensure the status remains in place.
The group, which includes more than 250,000 Haitians, has been promised it can remain in the United States indefinitely, rather than being forced to return to a country they have lived in for more than four decades.
But the talks between the U.S. administration and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have stalled, with IOM negotiators complaining they were cut out of the deal and told by the administration to make its own deal, according to a U.S. official who is familiar with the talks.
The U.S. official said the talks had been “very frustrating” and that the IOM had been unwilling to change its demands.
The government has demanded the Haitians be granted emergency temporary protection status, or TPS, which would allow them to work, receive refugee cards, and live in the United States indefinitely.
The U.S. official said the talks with the IOM would resume after the Christmas holiday.
The group, which includes more than 250,000 Haitians, had been promised the protections. But so far, the U.S. administration has refused to make any deal for the 1 million Haitians already in the United States protected under the TPS program.
In a statement, the U.S. administration said it had worked with the IOM in coordination with other U.S. and international partners, “and they have been responsive and credible.”
“The IOM has already started preparing a timeline to work with the United States on solutions to this issue,” said the U.S. official.
The IOM, which medi