Haitians get US extension

WASHINGTON: More than 58,000 Haitians who stayed in the United States under special protections since the catastrophic 2010 earthquake will be permitted to remain another six months, US immigration officials said on Monday.

The Haitians were facing orders to return home from July 23 if the Department of Homeland Security did not renew their temporary protected status, granted after a magnitude 7 earthquake destroyed much of the capital Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.

The quake killed tens of thousands and displaced more than one million people. Since then the destitute country has struggled against hurricane disasters, political turmoil and a sweeping cholera epidemic to rebuild and shore up its economy.

Temporary protected status allowed the Haitians to remain in the United States past the expiration of their visas and work legally. DHS officials said there are around 58,700 Haitians living in the US under temporary protected status.

Many do not have up-to-date Haitian travel documents, which has posed a problem to ending their status.

DHS officials said there was no decision yet on what would happen at the end of the six-month extension, but warned the Haitians to obtain new travel documents and "get their affairs in order." "It can’t go on in perpetuity," said DHS senior counsel Gene Hamilton.

As part of a general crackdown on illegal immigration, the government has been deporting Haitians who do not have temporary protected status, raising protests from pro-immigrant groups.