The recent earthquake in Haiti has been devastating for Haitians and Haitian-Americans living in the United States.  Several critical immigration programs may provide opportunities for relief.  On March 6, 2010, MPLP’s Michigan Immigrant Rights Project, (MIRP) along with the Pro Bono Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Michigan Chapter, University of Detroit Mercy Law School Immigration Law Clinic, and the Wayne State University Law School Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic, will hold a free legal clinic for Haitians and Haitian-Americans.  The clinic will be held in Lansing at the Central Free Methodist Church, 828 North Washington Avenue.  Volunteer attorneys will meet with clients for free consultations and, if appropriate, the preparation and filing of applications.  Interpreters will be available.

Haitian nationals living in the United States have recently been designated as being eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has determined that an 18-month designation of TPS for Haiti is warranted due to the devastating earthquake and aftershocks which occurred on Jan. 12, 2010. Renewal of that designation is possible, and, based on past TPS grants, likely.  U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will process immigration applications for TPS filed by nationals of Haiti (and other individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti).

DHS estimates that approximately 100,000 to 200,000 individuals will be eligible for TPS.  However, anecdotal evidence indicates that Michigan’s Haitians and Haitian-Americans are largely not in need of TPS since many are U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents.  However, many of those individuals are seeking advice and assistance with family-based applications and our clinic will offer those services.  U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) may apply for certain family members living abroad.  With respect to the immediate family members of U.S. citizens, USCIS has indicated that it will expedite the adjudication of petitions.   The immediate family members of LPRs will face multi-year waits for visas to become available, so this time of crisis could be a critical moment for an LPR to pursue U.S. citizenship.  Advice and assistance with naturalization will also be available at our clinic.

An appointment is not required, but potential clients are strongly encouraged to RSVP to the Michigan Immigrant Rights Project at (269) 492-4360.