(Photo: Tequila Minsky for The New York Times)

President Obama has said his administration will halt all deportations of Haitians currently detained by immigration enforcement officials. This is the wise and compassionate choice, but we at Sojourners and Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform urge him to take the next step and grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to all undocumented Haitians currently living in the United States as part of relief efforts.

TPS would allow the thousands of Haitians who are already in the United States the ability to stay here temporarily, secure work permits, and send money home to support relief efforts. TPS was intended to help in situations like this natural disaster.

TPS was established by Congress in order to protect nationals of designated countries who are temporarily unable to return home safely because of ongoing armed conflicts, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. It has been used with several Latin American countries in the past and is intended for situations exactly like the current earthquake disaster.

Help support Haiti during this time - pray, give, and act.

Please sign the petition asking President Obama to grant Temporary Protected Status to Haitians in the U.S.

(Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times)