The Department of Homeland Security has granted Haitians who are currently in the US illegally temporary protected status (TPS). Many pro-migrant groups, along with religious organizations like the Catholic Church, were pushing for this in recent days because it simply does not make sense to deport undocumented Haitians back to a country in chaos.

As long as Haitians were here in the US before January 12, 2010, they will be eligible for TPS, but it doesn’t sound like the Obama administration is ready to absorb those who attempt to arrive on US soil after the quake. Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano said the following:

“Attempting to leave Haiti now will only lead to more hardship for the Haitian    people and community.

I’m announcing today the designation for Haitian nationals in the U.S. as of Jan. 12, 2010. Those who attempt to travel to the U.S after will not be eligible for TPS and will be repatriated.

One of the first things we’re doing is sending out concurrent message as we provide relief… people should not leave Haiti with the false belief that they will be entitled to TPS in the U.S.

By the way, we see no signs of that kind of migration at this time.”

I do think that there will be a case made for getting young children and pregnant women out of Haiti though. Nearly 50 years ago, the US welcomed Cuban children under a program, Operation Pedro Pan, because of fears about communist indoctrination. At the time, according to what I understand, Cuba had not suffered a quake or a tsunami, but instead was caught in the Cold War drama. We Americans opened our doors and let the Cuban kids in.

Hospitals and charities in the Miami area are now gearing up to relocate Haitian children who have been left orphaned by the earthquake this week, under a Pierre Pan program. Granted, there are clear differences between the Cuba case of the early 1960s and the Haiti disaster some nearly 50 years later, but the goal would be the same: to provide these children with an opportunity to have healthy and productive lives. Thus far, the Department of Homeland Security has not committed itself to such a program for Haitian children.

What do you think? Should we ready ourselves to rescue Haitian children? Could the Haitian tragedy be an opportunity to more closely examine US immigration policy?