From left to right: Ketlie Numa-Lespinas, Rodneyse Bichotte, Raymond Joseph, Maria Castaneda and Mathieu Eugene pose for a photograph following the 1199SEIU press conference in Manhattan Jan 11. (Photo by Bianca Silva via The Haitian Times)
On Jan. 11, the final day of proceedings in the Saget et al vs. Trump trial involving Haitian TPS holders, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East kicked off a campaign urging the federal government to keep the status intact for Haitians and to protect Dreamers. The announcement took place the day before the ninth anniversary of the Haiti earthquake, the event that prompted the protected status for Haitians in the U.S.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte joined City Council member Mathieu Eugene, former Haitian ambassador Raymond Joseph and others in speaking about the earthquake and the impact ending TPS would have on Haitian immigrants.
Bianca Silva writes for The Haitian Times:
For Assemblywoman Bichotte, who represents the ‘Little Haiti’ areas of Flatbush and East Flatbush, mentioned that she currently represents 5,000 Haitians who are TPS recipients.
“It affects my district, it affects me because these are people whose been here for a while who have kids, who are working legally because they have gotten the paperwork to be allowed to work and now this decision comes by the Trump administration to displace and separate them from their families from their young kids who are U.S. citizen-born,” she said.
Go to the publication to read additional remarks from the Bichotte and other speakers, including those of Council member Eugene who recalled how he witnessed the earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010.