Damn It Profits to Be a Haitian in America
What federal, state and local benefits are Haitians in the U.S. receiving?
Back in 1990, as part of an immigration reform act that was signed into law by George H.W. Bush, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was created. It is a temporary immigration status given to nationals of specifically designated countries that are confronting an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. For instance:
TPS allows foreigners to stay in the U.S. if there is a conflict or disaster that prevents them from returning to their home country.
TPS allows immigrants to live and work in the United States.
Aliens are protected from removal.
TPS allows the alien to get a Social Security number and card.
Since then, a number of countries have been designated to receive TPS and over time countries such as Guinea (2017), Rwanda (1997), Sierra Leone (2017) and several others have had their TPS rescinded. In 2010, following a 7.0 - magnitude earthquake that caused widespread damage, Haiti was given TPS.
However, since the initial designation, Haiti's TPS has been extended several times due to ongoing challenges in the country, including subsequent natural disasters, political instability, and security concerns. The most recent was July 2024, when Department of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expanded TPS to a total of 474,000 Haitians.
Most of the new Haitians here in the United States are here because of Biden’s TPS. This most recent wave can receive a host of services.
For instance, the minute a Haitian lands in the U.S., the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is there to help them. The ORR Matching Program “provides cash assistance, intensive case management, and employment services to help clients immediately find and maintain employment” for a year. Afterwards, they can still get employability services through the Refugee Support Services (RSS) program for five years.
In addition, they can receive “specialized programs such as health services, technical assistance for small business start-ups, financial savings, youth mentoring, or other targeted support programs.”
Specific Benefits from the Federal Government
Haitians, as a Cuban/Haitian entrant (CHE), can receive federal benefits right off the bat. Unlike lawful permanent residents, who have to wait five years of residence in order to receive benefits, Cubans and Haitians, along with other groups such as Afghans and Ukrainians, can receive benefits immediately which include:
Medicaid
Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance, which is for the childless.
Refugee Social Services
Social Security
Supplemental Security Income, which is for the disabled and elderly
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is for family and individuals.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Federal Student Aid
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits
(Source: Reuters)
Benefits from States
The Governor of Ohio announced on September 11, 2024, he was providing:
$2.5 million for primary care access, because “in general, migrants from Haiti have had little to no healthcare services prior to arriving in the United States.”
Funding translation services through the Department of Jobs and Public Services
Increased traffic enforcement
Creating a school-based clinic for children and their parents
Increasing health department screenings
Funding to Clark State College to teach English to Haitians
Offering driving classes to the Haitian community
Provide more support to the Springfield school district. The number of students in the number of non-English speaking students grew from 200 to 900 from 2019 to 2023 (Source: Springfield News-Sun).
And this ladies and gentlemen, from Springfield, Ohio to Charleroi, Pennsylvania, is what all the fuss is about. Between the number of people who have been designated TPS and other statuses such a “Process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans” that grant parole with all the accompanying benefits; are havoc is being reaked on local and state governments that unlike the federal government, lack the ability to print dollars.