Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

US Ending Temporary Permits For Almost 60,000 Haitians

A view of the Homeland Security Department headquarters in northwest Washington, Friday, June 5, 2015.
Associated Press
A view of the Homeland Security Department headquarters in northwest Washington, Friday, June 5, 2015.

The Trump administration is ending a temporary residency permit program that has allowed almost 60,000 citizens from Haiti to live and work in the United States since a 2010 powerful earthquake shook the Caribbean nation.

RELATED: San Diego Volunteers Help Haitians Survive In Mexico

The Homeland Security Department says conditions in Haiti have improved significantly, so the benefit will be extended one last time until July 2019 to give Haitians time to prepare to return home.

Advertisement

Advocates and members of Congress from both parties had asked the Trump administration for an 18-month extension of the program, known as Temporary Protected Status. Haitian President Jovenel Moise's government also requested the extension.

RELATED: Mexicans Respond To Haitians, Africans With Unusual Hospitality

Advocates for Haitians say conditions in the island nation haven't improved nearly enough for Haitians to be deported.