Here are some of the latest news updates from Haiti!

Here are some of the latest news updates from Haiti:

1. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Extension: The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, has announced the extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for an additional 18 months, from August 4, 2024, to February 3, 2026. This decision allows an estimated 309,000 additional Haitian nationals in the U.S. to apply for TPS, provided they established residence in the U.S. by June 3, 2024. This extension comes in response to the ongoing violence, food insecurity, and limited access to essential services in Haiti​ (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)​ (The Haitian Times).
2. Kenyan Police in Haiti: Kenyan police are currently in Haiti undergoing linguistic and cultural training to enhance their operations. This initiative, sponsored by the French government, aims to help the Kenyan officers communicate effectively with the local population as they assist in stabilizing the security situation in Port-au-Prince, which has been severely affected by gang violence. The training includes lessons in French and Haitian Creole​ (The Star).
3. Biden Program Fraud Investigation: A significant fraud investigation has led to the suspension of certain beneficiaries’ Advance Travel Authorization (ATA) under the Biden Program, also known as the “Humanitarian Parole” program. This program allows Haitians to travel to the U.S. temporarily. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is currently strengthening its fraud detection mechanisms and has temporarily halted new sponsorship applications while continuing to process approved cases​ (HaitiLibre.com).

These developments highlight both the challenges and ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian and security issues in Haiti.