Faith leaders and immigration advocates gathered Tuesday near U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody’s Palm Beach Gardens office, urging her to support Senate Bill 4814. The measure would extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitians living in the United States by three years.
Haitian TPS has allowed immigrants to live and work legally in the U.S. since 2010 because of dangerous conditions in Haiti. The Department of Homeland Security revoked the designation in July after a Supreme Court decision permitted it to do so. Advocates say more than 150,000 TPS beneficiaries live in Florida and contribute $2.6 billion to the state’s economy.
Farah Larrieux, a Haitian-born marketing business owner, said she can no longer work or drive. She wrote a letter that the group hoped to deliver to Moody’s office, saying she fears being detained by immigration agents and deported to Haiti.
Members of the group said they were turned away from the parking lot by Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies, who were posting a “no trespassing” sign. A spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Deputies remained in the lot early Tuesday afternoon.
Frantz David Eugene, president of the Haitian Christian Leaders Coalition, said churches are running food banks and delivering meals to homebound members. Some are also helping with utility bills. Organizers said they plan to keep speaking out.
A call to Moody’s Palm Beach Gardens office went to voicemail, and her press office had not responded on her position on the bill.
