On January 21st, the Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano granted Haitian nationals in the US eligibility to apply for temporary protected status (TPS) for a period of 18 months.

As of 5/7/10. We will be updating this page frequently, so check back! Information to share? Email us!

Haitian Immigration Pro Bono Project

The Haitian Immigration Pro Bono Project is a project of the Lawyers Earthquake Response Network (LERN), hosted by The Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH). Its purpose is to:

  • Connect volunteer attorneys, law students, paralegals and others with free or low-cost legal service providers who need help in their Haiti TPS efforts, including on-site assistance and legal research etc;
  • Facilitate service provider collaboration, including the sharing of legal research, training materials, and the lessons of experience; and
  • Encourage volunteers to assist with related policy advocacy.

Visit the project online at http://www.probono.net/haitianimmigration/.

Upcoming Trainings for Lawyers on TPS for Haitians:

June 3: Temporary Protective Status for Haitian Immigrants (New York)

June 11: Tax Issues for Immigration Practitioners and Tax Benefits for Haitian TPS Beneficiaries (New York)

March Ongoing: Volunteer for Legal Aid Society's Haiti TPS Hotline (New York)

Want to Volunteer?

Connecticut: Visit Connecticut Lawyers for Haiti at http://ctlawyers4haiti.wordpress.com/ for further information.

Florida: Attorneys interested in assisting local Haitian immigrant population with TPS filings, should contact Kathy Para, Esq., Pro Bono Development Coordinator at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (kathy.para@jaxlegalaid.org)

Massachusetts: Visit http://www.masslegalservices.org/node/30407 for further information.

New York: Visit http://www.probono.net/ny/haiti/ for further information.

News on Regional Pro Bono Programs:

Fees, Deadlines Loom for Haitians in Florida (3/12/10)

Florida Pro Bono Attorneys needed to assist local Haitians with temporary protected status (3/2/10)

Legal Services of New Jersey, based in Edison, aids earthquake victims (2/11/10)

Norwich Haitians get help staying in the region (2/8/10)

Haitians Slow To Apply For Visas (2/2/10)

A Hand for Haiti: Connecticut Attorneys Help Immigrants Apply to Stay in America (2/1/10)

The Lawyers' Earthquake Response Network mobilizes support for human rights and justice in Haiti (1/29/10)

Haitian New Yorkers Begin Seeking Protected Status (1/29/10)

Mintz Levin Advises Undocumented Haitians on Options in Boston (1/28/10)

Boston College Law School leads area effort to help Haitian immigrants (1/27/10)

Connecticut Lawyer Group To Help Haitians Apply For Temporary Protected Status In United States (1/25/10)

Resources for Lawyers:

USCIS Creates Online "Haiti TPS: How to Register" Video
Includes a PDF transcript of the video as well.

LIRS Webinar on Applying for Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the U.S.
From Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Watch the recorded online training from January 22nd titled: "Applying for Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the U.S" The PowerPoint presentation used during this 1.5 hour training is also included in the downloadable materials.

Immigrant Defense Project Advisory: TPS and Criminal Dispositions
This is a practice advisory by the Immigrant Defense Project that provides information on criminal dispositions and conduct that can bar TPS eligibility.

AILA Webinar on TPS and Relief for Haitians in the U.S.
American Immigration Lawyers Association hosted a webinar on January 26th. Available for purchase online.

AILA Advocate Resources
American Immigration Lawyers Association has also collated resources for advocates online.

Join the NYC Pro Bono Center to find other training materials in the Library, including ILRC's Feb 2010 INTERIM updated short manual on TPS, the January CUNY, LAS webinar Immigration Training on Legal Assistance for Temporary Protected Status, and online video training for pro bono attorneys from New York Legal Assistance Group.

Forms:

Form I-821 (Application for Temporary Protected Status)

Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)

Form AR-11 (Alien's Change of Address Card)

Selective Service Registration Form (Draft registration form)

DHS Notices:

AILA's listing of up-to-date notices

DHS Announces Humanitarian Parole Policy for Certain Haitian Orphans Fact Sheet (1/19/10)

DHS Announces Streamlined Citizenship Application Process for Members of the Military (1/15/10)

DHS Issues Q&A Sheet on TPS for Haitians (1/14/10)

Other Online Resources:

USCIS -- Temporary Protected Status -Haiti

American Immigration Lawyers Association -- Haiti Earthquake Relief and Haitian Pro Bono Efforts

CLINIC -- Resources on Haitian Relief

American Bar Association -- Haiti Earthquake Legal Resources

Non-TPS Haiti Opportunities and Resources:

The Lawyers' Earthquake Response Network (LERN) (link opens PDF)
LERN is a national network of lawyers in the U.S. working with Haitian lawyers to implement a legal response to the earthquake in Haiti. To join LERN and learn more about its work, please visit the website at www.HaitiJustice.org. For more information, please contact IJDH's Director, Brian Concannon at Brian@ijdh.org.