Nationals of Haiti living in the United States will be allowed to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced Friday, January 15, 2010.
Temporary Protected Status is offered to nationals of countries facing extreme civil strife or natural disasters (such as hurricanes and earthquakes).
TPS offers relief in two ways. First, nationals of the designated country (Haiti) cannot be removed to Haiti during the designated period. Therefore those in removal or deportation proceedings can have their cases administratively closed. Second, TPS also comes with the benefit of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Nationals of Haiti would need to establish that they were in the United States on January 12, 2010, the date of the earthquake that has left many dead. The reason for this cut-off date is to deter those in Haiti from traveling to the United States to seek TPS, the Homeland Security Secretary added. The relief will be granted for an 18 month period.