Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security has extended temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians living in the United States for another 18 months, for 18 months, beginning January 22, 2013.

The Department of Homeland Security is expected to publish this wek, a notice in the Federal Register, announcing the decision, which will allow about 60,000 Haitian citizens to remain in the United States until July 2014. Haitians will have 60 days to re-register from the day that the notice is published.

"We had no doubts that TPS would be extended given the in-country conditions right now. We just were not sure if it was going to happen before or after the elections," declared Marleine Bastien, the founder of Haitian Women of Miami. "We are grateful that it's extended even though it is with the same failings that we have brought to the attention of the Department of Homeland Security," citing as an example the Haitian students who arrived in South Florida after the January 2010 earthquake, which can not go to university, because they are being charged prohibitive out-of-state tuition, Noting that some of those who are in nursing school can not attend their examination due to their TPS status.

HL/ HaitiLibre