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FIAC’s History with the Haitian Community

  • Justice for Haitians -- Since opening its doors in 1996, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC) has been at the forefront of the struggle to ensure justice for Haitian immigrants. The Haitian community has been an integral part of FIAC’s work, whether challenging unfair Haitian immigration policies in federal court or issuing reports documenting the discriminatory treatment of Haitians in the United States.
  • Haitian Expertise -- FIAC Executive Director Cheryl Little began her legal career at the Haitian Refugee Center. Before cofounding FIAC, she had worked on several successful landmark lawsuits involving Haitians, including a case won in the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991. Ms Little and Haitian clients have testified before Congress multiple times. FIAC has published several reports featuring and focused on Haitian immigrants, among them Haitian Refugees: A People in Search of Hope in 2004. We also represent virtually every unaccompanied Haitian child in immigration custody in Miami-Dade County.
  • TPS Advocacy -- For years, following periods of political turmoil and natural disaster, FIAC led national efforts calling for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians in the United States without legal status. The most recent campaign began in the wake of the killer storms that hit Haiti in late 2008. In January 2009, FIAC requested Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to grant TPS and followed up with a letter to President Obama signed by more than 125 groups nationwide.
  • Latest TPS Effort -- In December 2009, FIAC Executive Director Cheryl Little met to discuss Haitian TPS with high-level policymakers from the White House Domestic Policy Council, National Security Council and Department of Homeland Security. After Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake in January 2010, FIAC quickly sent letters to President Obama and Secretary Napolitano again requesting TPS. Thankfully, TPS was finally granted.
  • In the News -- FIAC’s expertise and leadership on TPS have been recognized by media nationwide. In the week following the earthquake, we fielded hundreds of calls from print, radio, television and digital news outlets alone. FIAC has been cited in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Christian Science Monitor, National Journal, Roll Call, Associated Press, Reuters TV, The Miami Herald, among other publications.
  • Looking Forward – FIAC’s efforts continue as we are helping Haitians apply for TPS and coordinating pro bono efforts statewide. Looking forward, FIAC will also work on issues impacting the future of Haitians and other immigrants in the United States.