Miami-Dade commissioner calls for TPS extension for Haitian immigrants (includes video story)

In October 2024, President Joe Biden’s administration announced it would no longer renew its lauded humanitarian parole program, a two-year initiative for migrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and Nicaragua. The decision sparked backlash across Miami-Dade’s immigrant population, with officials like District 2 Commissioner Marleine Bastien making vocal demands to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants from February 2026 to December 2028 and to allow new applicants.

For Haitian immigrant Chrisnel Guichette, words fall short. When asked why he believed Biden should heed Bastien’s call, he revealed a scar on his right leg that he suffered while escaping from gang violence.

“I was trying to run when my leg was broken,” said Guichette in his native Kreyol. “They were trying to kill me.”

Guichette, 48, is from southern Haiti, an area devastated by an earthquake in 2021. He and his wife traveled to and from the United States on visas while he worked back at home. Even though he wanted to return, Guichette says the country’s conditions made it nearly impossible.

“In Port-au-Prince, you probably cannot even get to your house safely because as soon as you leave the airport,” said Guichette. “You’re in the territory of the armed gangs.”

The father of three has a mixed-status family. His wife already has Temporary Protected Status and was able to renew it in the previous cycle, when Guichette applied for it himself. He has a child still in Haiti and another who is a U.S.-born citizen. 

Threats from President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to deport families like Guichette’s motivated Commissioner Bastien’s message to the president yesterday. 

“Do good for the Haitian immigrants who have been contributing to this country since the 16th and 17th centuries,” she said. “Because if there is an America that is thriving today, it is because of the work of Haitian immigrants”

When Bastien asked for a redesignation, she specifically mentioned Haitians under Biden’s humanitarian parole program that terminated in October. Activist Thomas Kennedy says that since then, the president has failed these people. 

“I think a lot of people, when the parole program was ended, thought that was sort of a layup for the current administration to grant those TPS redesignations,” said Kennedy. “So, you know, they’ve let all these people down. Again, these are people that could be sent back to countries that have really chaotic socio-political positions, to say the least.”

Anthony Cruz is a sophomore majoring in Digital Media and Communications. A first-generation Cuban American, Anthony has been interested in local news since high school and hopes to pursue a career in reporting politics. He is also a lifelong South Florida sports fan.