On August 5 the Boston City Council heard a resolution which calls on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to prepare a coordinated response to aid the thousands of Haitian, Syrian, and other refugees in Boston who are at risk of displacement due to the elimination of their federal Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The goal of the resolution is to enable residents to “quickly access assistance without undue bureaucracy, navigating multiple agencies, or unnecessarily disclosing sensitive immigration information.” The resolution directs the city to be prepared for assisting residents who suddenly lose housing or income stability due to changes in TPS status.
This resolution was introduced by City Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune, who is herself a daughter of Haitian refugees. The resolution is enthusiastically supported by Mayor Wu and City Council President Liz Breadon, who is an immigrant from Northern Ireland. However, Councilor Ed Flynn objected to an immediate rush to vote by the entire city council, and demanded that the measure take the traditional path of first being heard in a committee. The resolution will be sent to the Committee on Housing and Community Development, despite Councilor Louijeune stressing the urgency of the matter. There are approximately 45,000 TPS holders in total in Massachusetts who are all at risk of immediate deportation.
On August 4 Mayor Wu and Concilor Louijeune sent a letter which was signed by 104 elected officials from across the country, calling on the U.S. Senate to pass Senate Bill 4814 to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status. This letter details the dangerous conditions in Haiti which caused the U.S. State Department to issue a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, and notes that the Federal Aviation Administration continues to prohibit U.S. airlines from flying into Port-au-Prince, due to gang violence and kidnappings. The letter also details the well over $4 billion contribution to the U.S. economy annually by the Haitian immigrant community and the vital roles filled by these Haitians in many essential industries such as health care.
Mayor Wu stated: “Congress has the power to protect our communities and prevent this devastation for our families and economy by extending TPS. Thousands of Haitians have lived and worked lawfully in Boston and are part of the fabric of our city. Together with Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune and mayors from across the country, we are calling on Congress to act now.”
Councilor Louijeune stated: “Local leaders across America know that this unjustified attack on the Haitian community will destabilize our workforce, raise the cost of living, and subject parents and children to the lawless violence of an out-of-control federal government.”
