Rodney Souvenir of Haitian American Lawyers Association supports Resolution 626
Rodney Souvenir, president of the Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York, strongly supports Resolution 626 and S.4814. He notes the House passed its version with bipartisan support and describes how TPS uncertainty affects Haitian families in Flatbush, Canarsie, and beyond.
Good morning, Che and Canacion and members of the Committee on Immigration.
My name is Rodney El Pepe Souvenir, and I'm the president of the Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in strong support of Resolution 626, sponsored by Councilmember Farrah Lewis, calling upon the United States Congress to pass
Senate Bill 4814, designating Haiti for temporary protective status, TPS.
I want to thank Councilmember Lewis for her leadership and her steadfast commitment to the Haitian community here in her district and across our city.
On April 16, the House of Representatives passed its version of this legislation, H.R.
1689, with bipartisan support.
Senate Bill 4814 would give the Senate the chance to finish that work and allow eligible Haitian nationals to continue living and working lawfully in this country.
After the Supreme Court allowed the termination of Haiti's TPS to move forward, Congress is now the clearest path to protecting these families.
Nationwide, roughly 350,000 Haitians depended on TPS.
Many of them are our neighbors here in New York City, in Flatbush, Canarsie, East Flatbush,
Cambria Heights, and beyond.
They are nurses and home health aides, teachers, small business owners, lawyers, and parents of Americans.
American citizen children.
Many have lived here for more than a decade.
As lawyers, we see every day what uncertainty does to these families.
We see people afraid to go to work, afraid to renew a lease,
afraid to plan a future.
We have had to tell parents that they have to make a choice of whether to take their children into the certain dangers that exist currently in Haiti or separate and leave their children with a trusted friend or family member here in the States.
TPS exists for exactly the conditions that Haiti faces today.
Political instability, widespread violence, and the humanitarian emergency.
Sending people back into that danger is neither lawful in spirit nor humane in practice.
This council has long stood with New York City's immigrant communities.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 626 and add New York City's voice to the call for Congress to pass Senate Bill 4814.
Without delay, our families cannot wait.
Thank you.