ORLANDO, Fla. — A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services notice released on Monday explains that Temporary Protected Status for Haitians is expiring on Aug. 3.

What You Need To Know

  • A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services notice released on Monday explains that temporary protected status for Haitians is expiring on Aug. 3

  • A leader of the Haitian community in Orlando, Abigail Desravines-Louissaint, says she sees no way for Haitians in Central Florida to return to the island safely

  • She emphasizes that the Haitian community should stay vigilant and persevere, despite the announcement

TPS designation allowed Haitians to stay and work legally in the United States.

The notice says Haiti was initially designated after catastrophic earthquake in 2010 killed more than 200,000 people.

It was extended numerous times since, due to insecurity, gang crime and environmental disasters aggravating food insecurity.

“For decades the TPS system has been exploited and abused,” a Homeland Security statement announcing the change last week said. “For example, Haiti has been designated for TPS since 2010. The data shows each extension of the country’s TPS designation allowed more Haitian nationals, even those who entered the U.S. illegally, to qualify for legal protected status.”

One of the leaders in Orlando's Haitian community, Abigail Desravines-Louissaint, says she sees no way for Haitians in Central Florida to return to the island safely.

“It’s like war at home, in Haiti,” she said.

Desravines-Louissaint was born in Port-au-Prince and has spent seven years under TPS in Florida.

She says after the earthquake, the designation allowed her to move forward and create a better life.

“Being a product of TPS, I was able to go to school, continue my education, become an entrepreneur and now I’m serving the community,” she said.

Years later, Desravines-Louissaint now has a green card.

She serves on the board of Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce in Orlando as the director of spiritual leadership.

Her message to the Haitian community is to stay hopeful despite the announcement from the federal government.

“It’s unthinkable for so many people who have built their lives here,” she said. “I’d like to encourage my Haitian people to not fear.”

Desravines-Louissaint spends a lot of time on her laptop, coaching Haitian immigrants and helping connect them to resources like lawyers, medical aid, schooling and employment. 

“They’re not going to church, some of them are planning to deport themselves and that’s what we don’t want," she said. "So they’re afraid, they’re afraid."

Desravines-Louissaint is urging lawmakers to consider permanent pathways for TPS holders.

The notice says DHS Secretary Kristi Noem intends to review the Haiti TPS designation by June 4.

If she fails to do so, the statute triggers an automatic six-month extension of the current TPS designation.