Support Haitians Seeking Safety

CGRS stands in solidarity with Haitian leaders driving humanitarian efforts in response to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on August 14, 2021. The quake has exacerbated existing dangers in Haiti, including rampant violence and insecurity in the wake of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

The devastation wrought by the earthquake is profound. Thousands of Haitians have been injured and displaced from their homes, and the quake’s death toll continues to climb. Hospitals are inundated with Haitians in need of treatment, medical supplies are scarce, and hazardous road conditions impede rescue and recovery efforts.

Yet in September the Biden administration began expelling asylum seekers to Haiti en masse, flying thousands of Haitians to a country in deep crisis. CGRS is calling on the Biden administration to halt all deportation and expulsion flights to Haiti and on the international community to prioritize Haitian community-led solutions.

This page provides resources for people looking to support Haitians in Haiti, in the United States, and at the U.S. southern border.

At the Southern Border

We encourage those interested in supporting Haitians in the United States and at the southern border follow and support the work of Haitian Bridge Alliance and other Haitian-led organizations providing food, shelter, and crucial services to Haitian migrants.

Supporting Haitian Leaders Driving Relief

We encourage those interested in supporting people impacted by the earthquake donate to Haitians leading relief efforts on the ground. The Hastings to Haiti Partnership (HHP) is raising funds for the École Supérieure Catholique de Droit de Jérémie (ESCDROJ), a pioneering law school in Haiti dedicated to preparing students to serve the public interest. ESCDROJ’s leadership will ensure this support reaches the people and facilities most affected in their community. HHP has pledged to abide by new minimum standards for aid to Haiti that follows a rights-based approach.

The Haiti Response Coalition has also compiled a list of trusted earthquake responders and has outlined principles for a human-rights based approach to relief that promotes Haitian self-determination and leadership.

For Advocates Working with Haitians in the United States

Provide Pro Bono Legal Help

Haitian Bridge Alliance and the National Bar Association Legal PRO BONO Project are recruiting attorneys to support Haitians seeking asylum, humanitarian parole, and other forms of deportation relief in the United States. Attorneys can sign up using this form.

Access CGRS Resources for Haitian Fear-of-Return Cases

CGRS offers free assistance in asylum and other fear-of-return cases involving Haitian applicants through our technical assistance (TA) program. Our resources on Haitian claims include memoranda on conditions in Haiti and common transit countries such as Brazil, as well as expert declarations admissible in immigration proceedings. If you are interested in reviewing CGRS's most recent Haiti country conditions memos for general research purposes, please complete this form.

Attorneys and advocates can access these resources through CGRS’s online portal.

For People and Organizations in Haiti

Kay Tita, a community driven organization, is providing support to Haitians affected by the earthquake at their Impact Hub, a co-working and community space in Port-Au-Prince. Kay Tita’s website HaitiNeeds.com provides a list of key resources that on-the-ground aid workers and volunteers can use to facilitate their work. The dashboard also links to a volunteer form for those able to provide in-person assistance.

For Haitians in the United States

Access Legal Services

Haitians seeking legal assistance in the United States should submit this form to receive support in doing so from Haitian Bridge Alliance.

Resources on TPS

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti was newly designated from August 3, 2021, to February 3, 2023. All Haitians residing in the United States and seeking TPS must newly apply under this announcement. The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) has provided a resource page with information on applying for TPS for Haitians.

We recommend that Haitians registering for TPS under the new designation seek legal assistance. A list of qualified organizations is available through CLINIC’s affiliate directory and through the Immigration Advocates Network.

Stopping Removals and Extending Protection to Haitians in the United States

Alongside partner organizations around the country, CGRS is urging swift action by the Biden administration to ensure Haitians are not returned to a country in crisis. We are calling on the administration to:

• Halt all expulsion and deportation flights to Haiti
• Return to the United States any Haitians eligible for TPS who were wrongly deported following the administration’s May 22 redesignation announcement
• Extend the eligibility date for TPS and explore other avenues of protection for Haitian immigrants including Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)
• Expedite the release of Haitians detained in immigration facilities in the United States, Puerto Rico, and other territories
• Grant humanitarian parole to Haitians at the U.S.-Mexico border

We recommend individuals take the #WelcomeWithDignity pledge for information on upcoming advocacy opportunities.

This page was last updated on October 6, 2021.