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STATEMENT FROM HOMELAND SECURITY
SECRETARY JANET NAPOLITANO
"As part of the Department's
ongoing efforts to assist Haiti following Tuesday's devastating earthquake, I
am announcing the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian
nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010. This is a disaster
of historic proportions and this designation will allow eligible Haitian nationals
in the United States to continue living and working in our country for the next
18 months. Providing a temporary refuge for Haitian nationals who are currently
in the United States and whose personal safety would be endangered by returning
to Haiti is part of this Administration's continuing efforts to support Haiti's
recovery.
"At this moment of tragedy
in Haiti it is tempting for people suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake
to seek refuge elsewhere. But attempting to leave Haiti now will only bring more
hardship to the Haitian people and nation. The international community has rallied
to deliver relief to Haiti. Much has already arrived and much more is on its way.
The Haitians are resilient and determined and their role in addressing this crisis
in their homeland will be essential to Haiti's future.
"It is important to note that
TPS will apply only to those individuals who were in the United States as of January
12, 2010. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after January 12, 2010
will not be eligible for TPS and will be repatriated.
"The Department of Homeland
Security continues to extend sympathy to our Haitian neighbors and support the
worldwide relief effort underway in every way we can. Four Coast Guard cutters
have arrived in Haiti, in addition to a variety of Coast Guard assets that were
already in the area to support military air traffic control, conduct damage assessments
and rescue people in need of assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) continues to work closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) and the State Department-the lead U.S. federal agencies in the response-while
coordinating the deployment of state and local Urban Search and Rescue Teams from
across the country to Haiti and standing by to provide food, water and other resources
as requested. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided aircraft to
support response efforts.
"Haitians in the U.S. who are
eligible to apply for TPS should go to www.uscis.gov or call USCIS toll-free at
(800) 375-5283."
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