Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Trump blasted over decision to repatriate 59,000 Haitians
In this December 28, 2016 file photo, President-elect Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump challenges US intelligence agencies to provide decisive evidence of Russian involvement in election-season hacking.
Latest News, News
November 20, 2017

Trump blasted over decision to repatriate 59,000 Haitians

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday faced a backlash over his tough immigration policies after announcing that 59,000 Haitians who took refuge in the United States following the 2010 earthquake must return home.

Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle blasted the decision to repatriate the Haitians within 18 months, removing the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) they received after the disaster, which killed more than 200,000 people and destroyed much of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince.

Hundreds of protesters rallied near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago retreat in West Palm Beach, Florida — where the president was expected to arrive later for the Thanksgiving holiday — to voice their discontent at the move.

“The announcement to end TPS is mean-spirited two days before Thanksgiving,” said Wendi Walsh of Unite Here, a labour group helping organise the demonstration.

“These are people who have jobs here, who have houses, who have children here who are American citizens…. At this point we need a permanent status for people with TPS,” she said.

Haitians and their supporters also demonstrated in New York, warning that the decision would lead to breaking up families. Thousands of children have been born in the United States to people under TPS protections.

In Port-au-Prince, officials said they were grateful for the 18-month grace period, but residents voiced concern about the long-term repercussions.

“We knew this program was only temporary,” said Haiti’s ambassador to the US, Paul Altidor.

– ‘Not ready’ –

The US decision announced late Monday by the Department of Homeland Security was expected. But critics said impoverished Haiti is not prepared for an influx of returnees.

“Haiti is not ready,” said Marleine Bastien, Director of Haitian Women of Miami.

“It still has people displaced from the earthquake and from Hurricane Matthew. Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused even more damage, the cholera epidemic left 1.2 million people contaminated, there is no access to clean water infrastructure yet,” she told AFP.

“You look at the conditions on the ground and Haiti is a textbook on TPS continuation.”

In Canada, officials were girding for a potential surge of Haitians seeking asylum there; a number have already crossed the border from the United States in recent months since the Trump administration signalled its intent to end TPS.

“We’ve been planning for every conceivable scenario,” Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said.

– ‘Unconscionable’ –

Lawmakers from both parties representing districts with large Haitian communities — particularly in Florida and New York — lashed out against the decision.

“There is no reason to send 60,000 Haitians back to a country that cannot provide for them. This decision today by DHS is unconscionable,” said Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, who represents Florida.

“These individuals experienced severe loss and suffering as a result of the 2010 earthquake, and forcing them to leave the United States would be detrimental,” said Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican congressman from Miami.

“These individuals are established, respected members of our communities who have made significant contributions, and I urge the administration to reconsider its decision regarding Haitian and Nicaraguan nationals,” Diaz-Balart added.

Two weeks ago, the Trump administration also terminated the TPS status granted to 5,300 Nicaraguans after Hurricane Mitch slammed Central America in 1998, with renewals granted following other natural disasters.

Tens of thousands of Hondurans under TPS had their stay extended until July, and in January 2018, DHS is expected to decide on the status of some 200,000 TPS immigrants from El Salvador.

– Trump crackdown on immigrants –

Since coming to office in January, Trump has pressed for a crackdown on immigration, both legal and illegal, saying it has boosted crime and added to security threats.

Acting on Trump’s order, DHS and the Justice Department are upping the pressure on cities and states that provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants, including millions in the country for decades, by not turning them over to immigration officers for deportation.

The Justice Department has ordered a cutoff of federal funds to “sanctuary cities” and at the beginning of November warned California, the country’s largest state by population, that it would lose out on millions of dollars in federal funds if it continued to shield illegal immigrants from federal officers.

And last week, the department warned 29 “sanctuary” cities, counties and states that they would soon have federal funds cut off.

In response, a San Francisco federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration could not act on its threats, calling it unconstitutional and setting up a possible Supreme Court showdown.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

24,461 names added to voters’ list
Latest News, News
24,461 names added to voters’ list
June 2, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) says a total of 24,461 names have been added to the national voters list published on Ma...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Holness calls on labourites to protest against PNP ‘badminism’
Latest News, News
Holness calls on labourites to protest against PNP ‘badminism’
June 2, 2025
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Prime Minister and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader Andrew Holness is urging party supporters to protest against what he describe...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
WATCH: ‘No to Chung’ says Buchanan
Latest News, News
WATCH: ‘No to Chung’ says Buchanan
June 2, 2025
MANCHESTER, Jamaica— Attorney-at-law Isat Buchanan has criticised Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness over comments the latter made regarding a planned p...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Two confirmed dead in St Elizabeth crash
Latest News, News
Two confirmed dead in St Elizabeth crash
June 2, 2025
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Police have confirmed that two people died as a result of injuries they sustained in a two-vehicle crash on the Rocky Hill mai...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Crisis Support Charity and Burn Foundation of Jamaica launches with $1 million donation
Latest News, News
Crisis Support Charity and Burn Foundation of Jamaica launches with $1 million donation
Vanassa McKenzie, Observer Online reporter, mckenziev@jamaicaobserver.com 
June 1, 2025
Burn victims and vulnerable communities across Jamaica will receive much-needed assistance following the official launch of the Crisis Support Charity...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaican architect unveils plans for ‘Caribbean’s most ecologically advanced resort’ in Westmoreland
Business, Latest News
Jamaican architect unveils plans for ‘Caribbean’s most ecologically advanced resort’ in Westmoreland
June 1, 2025
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Jamaican-born architect Gordon Gill, founding partner of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, has unveiled plans for what ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Body found in Clarendon cesspit believed to be that of missing woman
Latest News, News
Body found in Clarendon cesspit believed to be that of missing woman
June 1, 2025
CLARENDON, Jamaica – A body was reportedly found in a cesspit in Milk River, Clarendon on Sunday. The remains are believed to be that of a woman from ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Three feared dead in St Elizabeth crash
Latest News, News
Three feared dead in St Elizabeth crash
June 1, 2025
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Three people are feared dead following a two-vehicle crash on the Rocky Hill main road near Santa Cruz in St Elizabeth on Sund...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct