✍🏽 A PETITION FOR FAIR VETTING AND PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS FOR HAITIAN NATIONALS ADMITTED TO THE US UNDER THE TPS AND CHNV PROGRAMS

 What’s Happening
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has decided to terminate two types of legal statuses (TPS and CHNV), which  previously allowed thousands of Haitian nationals to enter, live and work in the US legally. DHS decided to end TPS effective as of September 2025, and a federal judge extended the protection until February 2026 (a decision that DHS plans to appeal). The CHNV program ended in March 2025.  To paraphrase DHS and certain political heavyweights, these programs were terminated because:  (1) these programs were meant to be temporary, and the conditions in Haiti which justified granting these statuses no longer exist; (2) Haitian nationals were not properly vetted at US entry, and their presence on US soil creates or might create a safety risk to Americans; and (3) Former US President Joe Biden had no authority to create the CHNV program, and therefore Haitian nationals “flown” to the US under these programs are “illegals”.

Our Response
 (1) Haitian nationals are grateful to have been granted TPS status in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. Since their lawful entry on US soil, they have not remained stagnant and have become part of the rich fabric of communities that make up this great nation. Since their entry in the US, most TPS holders sought and obtained employment, founded families, some purchased homes, while others created small businesses that contribute to the American economy. Fifteen years after the fact, the vast majority of TPS holders have pursued various careers with a reviewable work history, pay bills and taxes, and have a demonstrable track record of being productive members of society,  with no (or a negligible) criminal record. TPS Holders are akin to everyday Americans with dreams, families,  co-workers and a desire for safety. While Haiti’s earthquakes have long subsided, the necessary remediation of the destruction caused by these earthquakes has failed to materialize. We pray that you find that the harm to the US economy and to these Haitian nationals that will likely result from the anticipated mass deportation of these individuals severely outweighs any perceived benefits of said deportation. Additionally, Haiti’s struggles- most especially the wave of ongoing gang violence in and around Port-au-Prince, is well documented and was the impetus for including Haiti in the CHNV program. After nearly a decade of relentless prayers, fasting, protests, discouragement, frustration and tears, we will continue to pray that it becomes clear across political party lines that the Haitian community is an asset, not a burden to the US economy and that the creation of a permanent legal pathway, as opposed to the  mass deportation of these Haitian nationals, is currently the best course of action for the US and for Haiti, until the Haitian diaspora and political actors create a sustainable infrastructure in Haiti.

 (2) We welcome and encourage the vetting, based on their work and criminal records in the US, of Haitian nationals, who legally entered the US under the TPS and CHNV programs. We thank DHS for its hard work in reviewing on a case-by-case basis the applications of Haitian nationals who applied for the TPS program over a decade ago. We pray and ask that the DHS now requests, obtains and reviews, also on a case-by-case basis, the US employment and criminal records of these nationals. Haitian nationals, who themselves have left Haiti to obtain safety, fully grasp and support  DHS’ desire to maintain safety and order within its borders. We pray for your conclusion that Haitian nationals who have entered the US lawfully and lived or worked in the US with little to no criminal history, are no more of a safety threat to the American public than the average American.  

(3) Disagreements across political party lines about the legality or merits of certain immigrant programs should not mask the reality that CHNV Haitian nationals entered the US under a  framework established by an elected US President. These nationals played by the book and should not be penalized because of a change in the political landscape. The term “illegal” is demeaning and does not fit the circumstances of their arrival on US soil. 

📢 What We’re Asking For
 1. Fair Vetting

We request that DHS  mandates the immediate individualized examination of US employment and criminal records of each Haitian national on US soil who: (A) entered the US through, and by complying with, the requirements established under the TPS or CHNV program, and (B) has been living in the US for at least a year (Conditions A and B hereinafter, the “Vetting Requirements”). 

2. Immediate Restoration of Legal Status and Protection from Deportation 

We request that for each Haitian national on US soil who meets the Vetting Requirements, DHS restores their legal status and orders a pause on all deportation proceeding until the conclusion of the vetting process

3. A Path to Permanent Legal Status

We ask that permanent “green card” legal status be granted to all Haitian nationals on US soil who (1) meet the Vetting Requirements, (2) have a demonstrable record of contributing to the US economy through any lawful employment for any length of time or through the creation of any revenue-generating lawful business entity that operates in the US  and (3) for whom an examination of their criminal history revealed no commission of felonies since they have entered the US

✊🏻✊✊🏽 Why This Matters to All of Us
The cost of mass deportation doesn’t just involve the construction of detention centers and hiring of enforcement agents. Many TPS and CHNV Haitian nationals legally work in healthcare, transportation, retail, customer service, manufacturing and farming. In addition to the loss of jobs in these industries, the real cost of deportation is the unnecessary risk of serious bodily harm to enforcement agents, children and families in often high pressure and chaotic environments– just to remove people who pose no concrete threat to our communities. 

Additionally, these Haitian nationals are not strangers to this country — they are our neighbors. This is not just about immigration. It’s about who we are as a country. It’s about protecting those who have played by the rules, contributed with love and labor, and asked only for the opportunity to live in peace.

Finally, we must remember that Haiti has in its past helped the United States in its time of need. During the American revolutionary war, Haiti sent hundreds of soldiers to fight alongside American troops. During WW2, Haiti provided raw materials to support the US. There are several cities and towns in the US named after Haiti (or rather its former name “Hayti”) to remember the resilience and courage of its people. Now more than ever is our time to show solidarity to the Haitian community. The Haitian community is not a burden. It is a gift — rich in faith, culture, resilience, and drive. Let’s honor their humanity, protect their families, and recognize their rightful place in the American story.

✍🏾 Add Your Name
Sign this petition to demand justice, compassion, and common sense from DHS and our elected leaders. Stand with Haitian families. Stand for fairness.