Overview:
The Haitian Bridge Alliance is providing legal letters and resources to help TPS beneficiaries prove their right to work and drive following a major court victory that left their status in limbo. The nonprofit advocacy groups also have family forms available to plan ahead of potential separations by immigration agents.
Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders now have additional support to help convince employers and motor vehicle agency clerks that the immigration program remains valid after a judge ruled against it’s termination. The Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has released a set of documents to help Haitians advocate for themselves at work, obtain driver’s licenses that became outdated because of the program’s original end date and otherwise protect their family in case of detention or deportation.
“We continue to fight because we understand if we are afraid to speak out, we have half a million lives in the balance,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance.
On Feb. 2, Judge Anna C. Reyes of U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., issued an order in the Miot v. Trump case that stopped the government from ending TPS for Haiti. However, the federal government has not issued the Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that allow TPS holders to work past the original Feb. 3 end date. As a result, driver’s licenses in certain states and employment whose end dates were tied to the EADs could not be renewed.
Job, drivers and family resources to download
Jozef urges the community to use the letter available on its website.
“People just click and download the letter and take the letter to their employers to explain to them [that] even though the expiration date on their work authorization is February 3rd, they are allowed to legally continue to work and reside in the United States until further notice.”
The HBA emphasizes that motor vehicle department clerks and company’s Human Resources workers are not experts in immigration law. So having the HBA letter and the judge’s ruling in hand is essential for self-advocacy.
HBA also has legal forms available for families to complete in case a loved one is detained or deported.
To protect yourself or family member on TPS:
- Download the HBA Letter: Go to HaitianBridge.org and print the “Letter for Employers and DMV.” You can also simply click on the letter here.
- Show Your Proof: If an employer or DMV clerk questions your status, present the HBA letter alongside the DHS notice regarding the court stay.
- Secure Your Family: Use the HBA “Family Plan” forms to ensure your documents and children are protected in case of further legal changes.
Florida driver’s license renewable through March
Haitian TPS holders in three states with significant Haitian residents — Florida, Ohio and New Jersey — immediately felt the brunt of TPS not being officially renewed last Feb. 3. Since the issue came to light, many advocates began pushing for changes and clarity at the state level.
While this is a start, Joseph noted she is still working to align Florida with the full one-year renewal period seen in other states—a move supported by the legal arguments the Haitian Bridge Alliance and other advocates have presented in court.
It is unclear as of this writing how the motor vehicle agencies in Ohio and New Jersey are assessing this issue.
Currently, about 375,000 Haitian immigrants have TPS and another 150,000 have pending applications. As a group, many provide essential services as doctors, nurses and farmworkers.
Beyond the economy, Haiti is currently unsafe for return, HBA emphasizes. Since 2021, armed groups have displaced 1.4 million people, and the country lacks a working government.
Like this:
Loading…
