미국 트럼프 행정부는 20일(현지시각) 지난 2010년 아이티 지진으로 미국으로 피신한 아이티 출신 6만 명을 일시 보호 대상자(TPS=Temporary Protected Status)들을 오는 2019년 7월에 중단하겠다고 밝혔다.

엄격한 불법 이민 정책을 내걸고 있는 트럼프 정부는 합법적으로 체류 중인 이민에 대해서도 규제를 강화할 방침이다. TPS는 지난 1990년 미국 의회가 자연재해·내란 등으로 고통 받는 외국인들을 보호하기 위해 만든 자격으로, 미국 체류를 허용하는 제도를 말한다. 가장 많은 난민들은 엘살바도르 출신으로 그 수가 20만 명에 달한다.

미국 의회 자료에 따르면, 현재 아이티 등 10개국 출신자 총 43만 7천 명에게 이 TPS가 적용되고 있다.

아이티에서는 지난 2010년 1월, 지진 규모 (M) 7.0의 강진으로 30만 명 이상이 사망했다. 미국 정부는 ‘아이티의 상황을 개선하고 안전한 귀환이 가능하도록 하겠다“고 설명 하지만, 아이티에서의 인프라, 경제재건 등이 지지부진한 가운데 ”미국 체류 아이티인들은 모국으로 돌아가도 살 수 없다“는 목소리가 높아지고 있어 트럼프 정부의 엄격한 이민정책이 그대로 적용될지 주목된다.

아래는 미국 국토부가 20일 발표한 TPS종료 내용 전문이다.

Acting Secretary Elaine Duke Announcement On Temporary Protected Status For Haiti / November 20, 2017.

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON— Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke announced her decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Haiti with a delayed effective date of 18 months to allow for an orderly transition before the designation terminates on July 22, 2019. This decision follows then-Secretary Kelly’s announcement in May 2017 that Haiti had made considerable progress, and that the country’s designation will likely not be extended past six months.

The decision to terminate TPS for Haiti was made after a review of the conditions upon which the country’s original designation were based and whether those extraordinary but temporary conditions prevented Haiti from adequately handling the return of their nationals, as required by statute. Based on all available information, including recommendations received as part of an inter-agency consultation process, Acting Secretary Duke determined that those extraordinary but temporary conditions caused by the 2010 earthquake no longer exist. Thus, under the applicable statute, the current TPS designation must be terminated.

Acting Secretary Duke met with Haitian Foreign Minister Antonio Rodrigue and Haitian Ambassador to the United States Paul Altidor recently in Washington to discuss the issue.

In 2017 alone, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conducted extensive outreach to the Haitian communities throughout the country. These include but are not limited to community forums on TPS, panel discussions with Haitian community organizers, stakeholder teleconferences, regular meetings with TPS beneficiaries, news releases to the Haitian community, meetings with Haitian government officials, meetings at local churches, and listening sessions.

Since the 2010 earthquake, the number of displaced people in Haiti has decreased by 97 percent. Significant steps have been taken to improve the stability and quality of life for Haitian citizens, and Haiti is able to safely receive traditional levels of returned citizens. Haiti has also demonstrated a commitment to adequately prepare for when the country’s TPS designation is terminated.

In May 2017, then-Secretary Kelly announced a limited extension for Haiti’s TPS designation, stating that he believed there were indications that Haiti – if its recovery from the 2010 earthquake continued at pace – may not warrant further TPS extension past January 2018. At the time, then-Secretary Kelly stated that his six-month extension should give Haitian TPS recipients living in the United States time to attain travel documents and make other necessary arrangements for their ultimate departure from the United States, and should also provide the Haitian government with the time it needs to prepare for the future repatriation of all current TPS recipients.

To allow for an orderly transition, the effective date of the termination of TPS for Haiti will be delayed 18 months. This will provide time for individuals with TPS to arrange for their departure or to seek an alternative lawful immigration status in the United States, if eligible. It will also provide time for Haiti to prepare for the return and reintegration of their citizens. During this timeframe, USCIS will work with the State Department, other DHS components and the Government of Haiti to help educate relevant stakeholders and facilitate an orderly transition.

Haitians with TPS will be required to reapply for Employment Authorization Documents in order to legally work in the United States until the end of the respective termination or extension periods. Further details about this termination for TPS will appear in a Federal Register notice.