Elected officials including U.S. Rep David Trone and County Councilmember Kristin Mink are calling on the federal government to protect recent Haitian migrants at risk of deportation.
Mink estimated Wednesday that hundreds of Haitian migrants in Montgomery County are impacted, based on estimates from several nonprofits and faith groups.
Trone joined a virtual press conference with Mink.
Electeds sent a joint letter — spearheaded by Mink — to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Per a release, 50 elected officials across the state signed on. Signatories include County Executive Marc Elrich and the entire county council.
Per the release, Haitian migrants who came to the U.S. after Nov. 2022 are not covered under Temporary Protected Status. Thus, many Haitians who came over the last 14 months are in removal proceedings even though they came legally, and armed conflicts in Haiti have gotten worse.
“Many are facing proceedings as soon as mid-January that could result in their immediate removal, despite the armed conflicts in Haiti worsening,” the letter states. It requests expanded eligibility for Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.
Mink and a Haitian constituent facing removal also delivered the letter to Tom Perez, senior advisor to the President and director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Feature photo via Mink’s office
