Haiti Refugees

Haiti in 2011

United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): On May 19, 2011, the Secretary of Homeland Security simultaneously extended Haiti's designation for TPS and redesignated Haiti for TPS for a period of 18 months, through January 22, 2013. 76 Fed. Reg. 29,000 (May 19, 2011). see this world legal encyclopedia in relation with the year 2010 at 10-11 for discussion of the original designation of Haiti for TPS on January 21, 2010. Excerpts below from the Federal Register notice announcing the extension and redesignation explain the basis for the action.

Developments

Over the past year, DHS [the Department of Homeland Security] and the Department of State (DOS) have continued to review conditions in Haiti. Based on this review, and after consulting with DOS, the Secretary has determined that an 18-month extension of Haiti's TPS designation from July 23, 2011 through January 22, 2013, is warranted because the conditions prompting the original designation continue to be met. The Secretary has further determined that these same conditions in Haiti support redesignating Haiti for TPS under INA section 244(b)(1)(C) and changing the ''continuous residence'' and ''continuous physical presence'' dates so as to continue affording TPS protection to eligible Haitians who arrived in the United States before January 12, 2010 and to extend TPS protection to eligible Haitians who arrived between January 12, 2010 and January 12, 2011.

Details

The January 12, 2010 earthquake has exacerbated Haiti's position as the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world.…

According to the GoH [Government of Haiti], an estimated 230,000 people died and approximately three million were affected by the earthquake. In total, more than one million Haitians have been left homeless and are currently living in temporary camps.…

… DOS estimates that there are approximately 1,300 internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Haiti. Although statistical reports vary, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that there are approximately 1.6 million IDPs, of which approximately 800,000 are children. The IDP camps are extremely crowded and are vulnerable to flooding, crime (including gender-based violence), and disease.

More about the Issue

… The current cholera outbreak in Haiti is evidence of the vulnerability of the public health sector of Haiti. Although statistical reports have varied, the GoH Ministry of Public Health and Population reported 199,497 cholera cases, including 112,656 hospitalizations and 3,927 deaths. Health officials and aid organizations believe the outbreak may spread nationwide. In efforts to contain the outbreak, a network of cholera treatment centers has been created.

Resources

See Also

• Nationality
• Citizenship
• Immigration
• Asylum
• Refugee Status
• Haiti