Massachusetts Attorney General Healey has intensified efforts to discourage immigration to the state, utilizing emergency director Gen. Scott Rice to communicate that local shelters are at capacity. Fliers distributed warn potential immigrants about Massachusetts’ weather extremes and challenges in accessing legal assistance for immigration needs.
Regarding the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll emphasized the state’s advocacy for federal support, highlighting the significant Haitian community’s backing for this legal status extension.
Under Massachusetts’ “right to shelter” law, emergency housing has traditionally been accessible to all legally present families, irrespective of citizenship status.
“We will continue to emphasize that Massachusetts lacks shelter space, and families arriving here must plan housing alternatives excluding Logan Airport or our Emergency Assistance shelters,” stated Rice last week.
When queried about the TPS extension amidst Healey’s shelter warnings, the governor’s spokesperson referred to Driscoll’s remarks.
Former President Donald Trump’s 2017 move to end TPS for Haitians drew strong condemnation from Healey, who labeled it as cruel and unconstitutional.
The redesignation of Haiti for TPS allows an estimated 309,000 Haitian nationals to apply for legal status, provided they meet eligibility criteria and were residing in the U.S. before June 3. Those arriving after this date are ineligible and face potential deportation to Haiti.
Current TPS holders must re-register within 60 days, starting July 1, with new applications accepted until February 2026.
Approximately 4,700 Haitians in Massachusetts currently hold TPS, according to Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who has been vocal alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey in advocating for the Biden administration to extend TPS for Haitian nationals.
Pressley emphasized the humanitarian need for TPS, noting Haiti’s dire conditions marked by violence and instability, factors exacerbated by a lack of formal governance and gang control over major urban areas.
In a letter to the Biden administration, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) urged reinstatement of TPS for Haitians, citing increased danger in Haiti and the inability of returned individuals to access basic services due to gang activities.
The Biden administration’s decision to extend and redesignate TPS for Haitians has been welcomed by advocates as a crucial step in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from deportation to hazardous conditions in Haiti.