By Michaela Etienne
Temporary Protected Status allows for immigrants from another country to move into the United States if they are facing civil war, environmental disasters, or epidemics in their country. There are more than 300,000 foreigners here in America due to TPS. That all changed on November 20, 2017, when Donald Trump announced that he will be ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Trump has given Haitians 18 months to get their affairs in order so that they can return back to Haiti. He feels as though Haiti has had enough time to recover from their tragedies. The removal of TPS will result in about 60,000 people leaving and returning to Haiti. This is a difficult transition for Haitians because while in America some had children, making it harder for them to leave America since their kids are legal citizens. They will either have to illegally live here, take their kids to Haiti with them, or leave them behind with relatives. Trump has also removed TPS for Nicaraguans, Salvadorans, many more.
I asked Junior Demelza Pierre if she thinks that Haiti has improved from its former conditions. “I don’t know. I do know family members that have left Haiti and the other islands in search of a better life.” I asked Junior Val Pierre how she felt about Trump’s removal of TPS, and she said, “I feel that it’s dumb because he doesn’t realize there is a large portion of Haitian, Spanish, and all the other minorities that are a significant amount in America’s population. He also doesn’t have a good reason for it.” Demelza also had something to say about TPS removal for Haiti and other countries, “If they really do need it, I think they should have the ability to come and do better for themselves if they’re living in an economy that’s struggling or that has other push factors.” With Haiti struggling with cholera outbreaks, lack of proper infrastructure, hurricane and earthquake damage, and also a corrupt government, Trump thinks it can accommodate the 60,000 people moving in. “That’s a damn lie because the country itself is still struggling in parts. I don’t think it will ever get to the point where everyone should move back because it’s not that stable,” said Val. Demelza said, “I feel that it’s worse because if you send them back you’re still going to send relief help like UNICEF and do all of that all over again. We have options to help Haiti which is where the need of TPS comes in. What I’m saying is that you’re still going to have to help, and by ending TPS they’re just making the situation worse.”
Many believe that Trump is ignorant of the true circumstances in these countries and should allow these foreigners to continue with TPS. The foreigners that use TPS have actually adapted to our country. 70% of the foreigners speak English and have jobs. Immigrants really help our country because they are willing to do excruciating jobs that many citizens probably would never do, and they get paid scraps after their long hours of labor. They do all of this and don’t even get to enjoy all of the money they earn because they are sending it back to their homeland so that their family can make it. Does that really seem like a threat to you?