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from MCC:

Haiti Needs Temporary Protection Status

Issue: On January 12 Haiti was a hit by a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The quake hit close to the capital city of Port Au Prince, affecting up to three million people according to the Red Cross. Details of the human cost are still unclear but some estimates put the death toll in the tens of thousands.

Background: Mennonite Central Committee is responding to the disaster through emergency aid and the U.S. government, along with other aid agencies, has pledged support to the Haitian people.

President Obama in a speech on Wednesday morning said, "Let me just say that this is a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share. With just a few hundred miles of ocean between us and a long history that binds us together, Haitians are neighbors of the Americas and here at home. So we have to be there for them in their hour of need."

In addition to emergency relief efforts, the U.S. government can take another important step to help the Haitian people in their "hour of need." The Obama administration can immediately grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians already in the United States. TPS would allow immigrants who are unable to safely return to their home country - because of ongoing conflict, natural disaster or other extraordinary conditions - to extend their stay in the United States on a temporary basis.

In 2008, tropical storm Gustav and hurricanes Hanna and Ike caused more than $1 billion in damages in Haiti - the equivalent of 15% of the country's GDP - destroying crops, washing out roads and bridges and killing an estimated 800 people. According to USAID, approximately 35,000-40,000 people were left homeless and over 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Haiti has still not recovered from these storms and the earthquake just compounds the problem.

Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants already living in the United States will help in the recovery effort. There are an estimated 30,000 Haitians in the U.S. facing the threat of deportation. TPS status would allow them to apply for temporary work authorization and the money they send home would assist in Haiti's recovery.

Action: Send a letter to President Obama and urge him to immediately grant TPS for Haiti.

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Alert prepared by Theo Sitther, Legislative Associate for International Affairs and Tammy Alexander, Legislative Associate for Domestic Affairs.