Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York News

April 2026 Newsletter

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:46:58 GMT

We’re excited to share our latest newsletter with you! Inside, you’ll find a roundup of recent events, community highlights, and important updates that keep you connected to all that’s happening within HALANY.

Take a moment to explore our upcoming initiatives and ways you can get involved. Your engagement is what makes our community vibrant and strong.

Newsletter Revised April 2026.pdf

Notice of Changes to the New York State Division of Human Rights Discrimination Reporting and Complaint Filing Process

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 21:13:21 GMT

The attached notice contains important information about changes for reporting discrimination to the New York State Division of Human Rights.

Notice of Changes to the New York State Division of Human Rights Discrimination Reporting and Complaint Filing Process

Erie County Supreme Court - Expansion of Mandatory E-filing

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 21:05:11 GMT

Attached is a memorandum from Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas, J.S.C., regarding the proposed expansion of mandatory electronic filing in the Erie County – Supreme Court. It was announced that, effective January 1, 2026, Erie County Supreme Court – Civil Term will expand its mandatory electronic filing (e-filing) program to include case types that were previously eligible only for consensual e-filing.

Memorandum from Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas, J.S.C.

Mayor Adams and Commissioner Castro Announce Additional Funding to Support Newly Arrived Haitian New Yorkers

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:30:31 GMT

Funding Will Include Additional $1.6 Million in Needed Support Services

NEW YORK— New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro today announced an additional $1.6.5 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2023 to help newly arrived Haitian New Yorkers access immigration legal assistance and numerous social services. This funding is an increase from last year, bringing the total investment for New York City’s Haitian Response Initiative to $3.15 million. To mark the importance of this announcement a Haitian flag raising ceremony was held at Bowling Green near Wall Street in Manhattan.

“I am proud to be the mayor of the largest Haitian population in the United States and pleased to announce the additional $1.65 million in funding that’s being provided to help newly arriving Haitian New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “These funds will provide much needed services and resources that the city regularly provides to all immigrant New Yorkers. As we raise the Haitian flag, we say today and every day, that we stand with our Haitian community and will always have their back.”

Click here to read more...

Haiti “Ransom Project”: Let’s Discuss “The Independence Debt”

Tue, 24 May 2022 15:17:30 GMT

The New York Times recently released a multi-part series detailing the history of Haiti, a nation originated from the first, and the only, successful slave revolt in the history of the world. The Times analyzes the obstacles Haiti faced after its victory, its root causes, and the crippling economic impact of its payments to France. The Times asks what if Haiti had not been subjected to decades of payments to its oppressors?

HALANY invites you to read the article and engage with us in discussion on our Facebook page.

To access the article for FREE click here.

Questions to consider:

What has this article brought to your attention?
Do you think any real change will result from this?
What can we do, as Americans living abroad, to support?

Feel free to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep updated of newsworthy topics and upcoming events.

We should all celebrate Haitian Flag Day

Tue, 17 May 2022 15:31:00 GMT

Once upon a time in Haiti, we were free. They say we are free in America. But there’s always a cost to Black liberation.

To be free is to be empowered and, unbound, Black people seem to scare this world. Look back at how countries worked to ravage Haiti of its path to self-sustaining freedom. See it in xenophobic deportation policies upheld by presidents, Democrat and Republican alike.

Haiti has been paying for daring to win its freedom for over 200 years. Black folk in America, though privileged by comparison, bear an expense too high to pay, as well. Click here to read more.

Flag Day in Haiti Part 2: Arcahaie celebrates despite strife nearby, mayor’s firing

Tue, 17 May 2022 14:20:21 GMT

CAP-HAITIEN — The festivities in Arcahaie, the birthplace of Haiti’s flag, began last Friday with the customary children’s march. Dressed in white or red T-shirts and blue jeans, the children assembled in front of the city hall, waving the red-and-blue, and reciting.

‘Jean-Jacques Dessalines created the Haitian flag.’

‘Catherine Flon sewed the Haitian flag.’

Afterward, they marched in the streets alongside their instructors, to the sound of a marching band’s trumpets and drums. Later, a bigger parade followed with thousands of people, including men on horseback dressed as Heroes of the Haitian Revolution, women sporting folkloric dresses dancing and high school students in their uniforms.

“The soul of the May 18 Meeting is in Arcahaie,” said attorney Jean Amilcar, an Arcahaie native. “The vibration, the energy is in Arcahaie and they can’t move it.” Click here to read more.

Flag Day in Haiti Part 1: Festivities, pride dampened as violence reigns in capital

Mon, 16 May 2022 14:00:00 GMT

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, Gilbert Ménard, a taxi driver in his 40’s, remembers the joyful events held around the capital in the lead-up to and on Haiti’s Flag.

As May dawned, smaller activities began taking place in anticipation and promotion of or Jou Drapo. The National Palace, located in the Champ-de-Mars Park, set the tone with oversized red-and-blue pom-poms hanging along its exterior, silk ribbons wrapped around its stately pillars and green fence. A few blocks away, workers cleaned and tidied the National Plaza, home to historical monuments and founding fathers statues.

Weeks prior, street vendors set up stands to sell little flags, bracelets and t-shirts around the theme. Each night, the ambiance stretched all the way in the capital’s popular neighborhoods. Click here to read more.

Here’s Where to Celebrate Haitian Heritage Month in New York

Fri, 13 May 2022 16:25:47 GMT

On Thursday, May 5, 2022, the New York State Assembly passed a resolution that formally designated May as Haitian Heritage Month statewide.

“The designation of Haitian Heritage Month commemorates the heart and the souls of the people of Haiti here in New York, and our home country, the Island of Haiti, the first Black Republic,” says Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn who introduced the resolution cosponsored by 15 members of the Assembly.

Since May 1998, as an expansion of the Haitian flag day, Haitian Heritage Month has been celebrated throughout the United States to highlight the Haitian rich culture, art, cuisine, history, and the Haitian community contribution.

This year marks the 219th anniversary of the creation of the Haitian flag on May 18, 1803. Haiti became the first Black Republic in the world after a slave rebellion led to its independence by defeating the French army.

The United States is home to Haiti’s most important Haitian diaspora in numbers and remittances sent to Haiti. Florida and New York are the two states with the highest concentration of Haitians. According to the United States Census Bureau, before the deadly earthquake in 2010, an estimated 830,000 people of Haitian ancestry were living in the United States. 55,000 Haitian immigrants were granted Temporary Protected Status. In 2020, the Haitian diaspora sent 3.8 billion dollars in remittances to Haiti. 76% of these transfers came from the United States.

Click here to read more.

Haitian Heritage Month now recognized across New York State

Thu, 05 May 2022 21:00:00 GMT

(Albany, NY) -- Today the New York State Assembly passed a resolution introduced by Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn which formally designates May as 'Haitian Heritage Month' statewide. The resolution was cosponsored by 15 members of the Assembly.

Speaking to the chamber, Bichotte Hermelyn noted Haiti's status as the first free Black republic in the Western Hemisphere. "We are a people that have been fighting for our freedom for generation after generation, including in America," she said, referring to the period in 1779 when Haitian's fought alongside the Union in the Battle of Savannah. "We saw the beacon of freedom that America promised, and we helped seize it."

The designation of Haitian Heritage Month commemorates Haitian heritage and culture, including the nation's notable leaders like Jean Jacques Dessalines, who defeated Napoleon and the French colonists at the Battle of Vertières in 1803; General Toussaint Louverture, who commanded his revolutionary army to victory; and female revolutionaries like Marie-Jeanne Lamartinière – who fought as a soldier in the Indigenous army – and Catherine Flon, a nurse, who is credited with crafting the independent Black Republic of Haiti flag in 1803; and Jean Baptiste Dusable, the first settler of Chicago, also known as the “father of Chicago”. Other notables include Jean-Michael Basquiat, one of the defining artists of the 20th century – and Jackson Georges, a painter - both Haitian - as well as modern day leaders like actor Jamie Hector, and reporter Vladimir Duthiers. Click here to read more.

USCIS Agrees to Restore Path to Permanent Residency for TPS Beneficiaries

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 13:53:26 GMT

SILVER SPRING, Maryland — Late yesterday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agreed to restore a path to permanent residency for many Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries blocked by then-acting USCIS Director Ken Cuccinelli — an illegally appointed Trump official. Because of this agreement, TPS beneficiaries impacted by this policy will be able to reopen and dismiss their removal orders and apply to adjust their status to become permanent residents — eliminating the threat of deportation if their TPS protections are revoked in the future.

The agreement is the result of a new settlement in CARECEN v. Cuccinelli, a lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), Montagut & Sobral, PC, and Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP in August 2020. Seven Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries and the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) sued the Trump administration for unlawfully denying tens of thousands of TPS beneficiaries the opportunity to take steps to adjust their immigration status and become permanent residents. In the lawsuit, the seven current TPS holders shared their stories. Now, each one has the opportunity to obtain permanent residence.

The December 2019 policy change, disguised as a mere clarification, was one of the Trump administration’s many efforts to eliminate TPS protections for tens of thousands of eligible men and women. The groups’ lawsuit alleged the change violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act; was motivated by the Trump administration’s racial and anti-immigrant bias; and was unlawfully authorized by Ken Cuccinelli, whose appointment was deemed illegal by a federal court in March 2020 in response to a separate lawsuit brought by Democracy Forward, CLINIC, RAICES, and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.

“Today’s agreement will allow TPS beneficiaries — many of whom have lived in the U.S. for decades and built deep roots in their communities — to once again seek permanent residency and extinguish the threat of deportation if their TPS protections are revoked,” said Democracy Forward Senior Counsel John Lewis. “The Trump administration’s policy illegally sought to destabilize the lives of tens of thousands with TPS protections. We’re proud to have helped restore protections that ensure our neighbors have a path to pursue permanent residency.”

“This victory will change the lives of those individuals impacted,” stated Abel Nuñez, Executive Director of CARECEN. “As an organization, we are proud of our continued efforts to defend our community as they integrate into their new home in the U.S. CARECEN will work with those TPS members that qualify under the settlement and also keep fighting to ensure that all TPS beneficiaries who have been in the U.S. for over 20 years and have complied with everything that has been asked of them are able to apply for legal permanent residence." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

Partnership between National Bar Association (including Haitian American lawyers Associations across the country) with Haitian Bridge Alliance. ATTORNEYS ARE NEEDED

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 18:28:57 GMT

There is a Partnership between National Bar Association (including Haitian American Lawyers Associations across the country) with Haitian Bridge Alliance.

Haitian Bridge Alliance, has partnered with the National Bar Association to streamline the process and increase capacity to provide legal service to migrants at the Texas border. The conditions of the agreement are as follows. We are looking for attorneys to take on cases Probono if you are interest in participating please fill out this form by clicking here and email us at halaofny@gmail.com. If you are a law student, or an attorney and interested in joining HALANY Immigration efforts please email us at halaofny@gmail.com. If you know any migrant that is seeking legal advice, please have them fill this form by clicking here.

Click on here for Legal Resources for the Haitian Border Crisis.

Best,

HALANY

HALANY Host its First TPS Clinic Of The Year on October 23, 2021.

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 01:11:14 GMT

Join HALANY Host its First TPS Clinic Of The Year on October 23, 2021.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a little-known program that offers a temporary legal status to certain immigrants in the United States who cannot return to their country of origin due to ongoing armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary reasons. On May 22, 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Haiti for 18 months.

We will be hosting a FREE clinic to aid people who will be in need of assistance in filling out the TPS application. If you have any questions, please email us at HALAOFNY@GMAIL.COM.

TPS Clinic

Date October 23,2021

Time: 2:00pm.

Location: Lifeline Gospel Ministries International Incorporated

1010 Rutland Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11212.

We are looking for volunteers. You do not need to be an attorney to volunteer. If you are interested in helping out with our TPS Clinic please fill out this form.

Haitian Lawyers Association of New York 2022 Law Student Scholarship is now accepting Applications

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:37:40 GMT

The Haitian Lawyers Association of New York cordially invites you to apply to be our 2022 Scholarship Recipient. The scholarship will be awarded at our Induction Ceremony a to be held in the beginning of the year in 2022. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is by 5:00pm on October 22, 2021.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

It is our mission to promote the advancement of Haitian people in the legal and judicial field, as well as serve the Haitian community of New York by providing critical information, advocacy, resources and opportunities to get involved and give back to the Haitian community.

We urge you to join in this mission by becoming a member of HALA-NY or renewing your membership today: www.halany.org/join

For more information please contact halanyscholarship@gmail.com

DHS Announces Registration Process for Temporary Protected Status for Haiti

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 18:00:00 GMT

Designation Allows Eligible Haitians Who Resided in the U.S. as of July 29 to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today posted for public inspection a Federal Register notice that provides information about how to register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas previously announced this 18-month designation of Haiti for TPS on May 22.

The registration process will open next week when the FRN is published. All individuals who want to request TPS under this designation for Haiti must file an application.

This includes approximately 55,000 current TPS Haiti beneficiaries, whose TPS-related documentation is automatically extended at least through Oct. 4, 2021, in compliance with court orders. These individuals must file a new application for TPS under this designation to ensure they retain their status.

This designation of Haiti for TPS also enables an estimated 100,000 additional individuals to file initial applications for TPS, if otherwise eligible. To be eligible for TPS under this designation, individuals must demonstrate that they have continuously resided in the United States since July 29, 2021. In light of recent events in Haiti, including the July assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Secretary Mayorkas has modified this date from what was previously announced. Individuals who attempt to travel to the U.S. after July 29, 2021, will not be eligible for TPS and may be subject to expulsion or removal.

Individuals applying for Haiti TPS must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the 18-month initial registration period that runs from Aug. 3, 2021, through Feb. 3, 2023. Haiti TPS applicants are eligible to file Form I-821 online. When filing a TPS application, applicants can also request an Employment Authorization Document by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with their Form I-821. Applicants may also submit Form I-765 online.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Prayer vigil for Haiti in Brooklyn

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 21:46:21 GMT

From left Council Member Farah N Louis, Sen. Brian Benjamin, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Rev. Al Sharpton, Attorney General Letitia James.

Little Haiti BK, in partnership with the Office the Brooklyn Borough President, Haitian-American community organizations and the National Action Network, held a prayer vigil for Haiti on Sunday at Newkirk Avenue, between Nostrand Avenue and East 29th Street in Brooklyn.

The community-led event provided an outlet for New York-based Haitian-Americans and allies to unite in prayer for the people of Haiti in the wake of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

Brooklyn is regarded as home to the second-largest population of Haitian-Americans in the United States after Miami.

The people of Haiti have faced heightened political instability, food insecurity and turmoil following Moïse’s assassination on July 7.

Attendees included Rep. Yvette Clarke; New York Attorney General Letitia James; Mayor Bill de Blasio; Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; Sen. Brian Benjamin; Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn; Council Members Farah N. Louis and Helen Rosenthal; Democratic nominee for Council District 40 Rita Joseph; and District Leaders Josue Pierre and Edu Hermelyn.

Others were: Eudson Tyson Francois, a member of the Spring Valley Board of Trustees; Sabrina Charles Pierre, Vice-President of the East Ramapo School Board; and prominent Hatian-American community organizations, including Little Haiti BK, Inc. and the Haitian-American Law Enforcement Fraternal Organization (HALEFO).

“We mourn with our Haitian community over the tragic events that have unfolded in Haiti in recent weeks,” Adams said. “Our Haitian community contributes immeasurably to our shared social, economic and civic life in Brooklyn and beyond, and it is critical that we stand in solidarity with them during this difficult time.

“I thank all the Haitian community leaders and community groups who organized this vigil in Brooklyn’s own Little Haiti,” he added.

Rev. Sharpton, civil rights leader and president and founder of National Action Network, who was the keynote speaker, said: “In times of struggle, we all need to support one another.

“The National Action Network stands in solidarity with the Haitian-American community through this tumultuous time, because none of us can thrive until everyone can,” he said. “We are hosting this prayer vigil to stand with our Haitian-American brothers and sisters, shed light on this scourge on Haiti and encourage other communities to get involved in this time of crisis.”

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn addresses prayer vigil.\

Bichotte Hermelyn, the Haitian American chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, said: “I want to thank my colleagues for joining me in calling on President Joe Biden to make sure they do not deport Haitians living in the US and that they focus not on international intervention but on humanitarian efforts like providing food, vaccinations and resources to ensure Haiti can move forward graciously with fair and free elections.”

Louis, another daughter of Haitian Americans, who represents the 45^th Council District in Brooklyn, said: “The Haitian-American community in New York City stands in support of Haiti during this difficult and tragic time.

“With so many of our friends and family in Haiti suffering right now, we pray for the nation’s quick recovery and repeat our calls for President Biden and the United States to help in the form of humanitarian aid and additional COVID-19 vaccine doses,” she said, adding that the vigil was “an expression of our deep solidarity with the Haitian people, as well as our hopes and prayers for a better future for them.”

“The people of Haiti need our prayers and support during this difficult time,” said Jackson Rockingster, chair of Little Haiti BK, Inc. and president of the Haitian American Business Network (HABNET).

“In Little Haiti, Brooklyn, the atmosphere is tense with fear for our loved ones abroad,” he said. “Everyone here knows someone in Haiti who is struggling through these tumultuous times. The vigil was a way for us to express solidarity for the people of Haiti and come together with our neighbors to pray for stability in Haiti and hope for the nation’s future.”

Organizations sponsoring and supporting the event included: Association des Ingénieurs Haïtiens et Américains (ADIHA); Association Médicale Haïtiennes à L’etranger (AMHE); CUNY Haitian Studies Institute; Diaspora Community Services; Foundation for the Emancipation of Women and Girls; FS Nostrand Merchant Association; Haitian-American Alliance of New York, Inc. (HAA); Haitian American Business Network (HABNET); Haitian American Caucus (HAC); Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York (HALANY); and Haitian-American Law Enforcement Fraternal Organization (HALEFO).

Others were: Haitian-American Nurses Association of Greater New York; Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP); Haitian Clergy Association; Haitian-American Community Coalition (HCC); Haitian Round Table (HRT); Le MoJo Show; Life of Hope (LOH); Little Haiti BK, Inc.’ National Action Network; National Action Network Youth Huddle; Society of Haitian Administrators and Supervisors; and Society for Haitian Research (SHR).

Source: caribbeanlifenews.com/prayer-vigil-for-haiti-in-brooklyn/

‘Pray for Haiti’ vigil held in Brooklyn

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 21:44:00 GMT

Local leaders and activists came together on Sunday in Brooklyn to stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti in a time of turmoil following the recent assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

On Newkirk Avenue between Nostrand Avenue and East 29th Street, a ‘Pray for Haiti’ vigil was held. The vigil was sponsored by Little Haiti BK, the Mayor’s Office, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Haitian-American community organizations, and the National Action Network.

Eric Adams said, “We grieve with our Haitian community over the tragic events that have taken place in Haiti in recent weeks. Our Haitian community is immeasurably contributing to our shared social, economic, and civic life in Brooklyn and beyond, and it is vital that we show solidarity with them during this difficult time.”

“Our Haitian-American community in New York have a shared goal: That is to see peace and unity in Haiti. We all share a cultural background and have friends, relatives, and loved ones living abroad, and we all wish for peace for the country,” said Sherbune Paul, Esq, president of the Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York.

Click to read more...

Activists, Local Leaders Hold Prayer Vigil For Haiti In Brooklyn

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 23:08:00 GMT

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Activists and local leaders came together in Brooklyn on Sunday to stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti in a time of turmoil.

The group held a prayer vigil in the Little Haiti neighborhood.

Activists also called on the Biden administration to stop deporting individuals to Haiti and to pass a comprehensive immigration bill.

They’re offering messages of unity and support weeks after Haiti’s president was assassinated.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said the United States must provide Haiti with humanitarian relief and relieve them of debt.

“We’ve come together to extend healing hands to let Haiti know that we are here, and that we will urge our government and that we will come together and provide them assistance,” she said.

“I hope that this vigil gives us a sense of unity, a sense of healing,” Rev. Al Sharpton said.

Source: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/07/25/brooklyn-prayer-vigil-haiti/

Brooklyn’s ‘Little Haiti’ pays homage with local prayer vigil: Leading activist immigrants and descendants share unity

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 19:00:00 GMT

A prayer vigil for Haiti was held on Sunday afternoon at Newkirk Avenue between Nostrand Avenue and East 29th Street, sponsored by Little Haiti BK, the Office of the Borough President, Haitian-American community organizations and the National Action Network.

The people of Haiti have faced political instability, food insecurity and turmoil following the assassination of the country’s president, Jovenel Moise, on July 7.

Elected officials including Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and representatives of prominent Hatian-American community organizations, including Little Haiti BK, Inc., the Haitian-American Law Enforcement Fraternal Organization and more, appeared in support of the people of Haiti and the New York Haitian-American community.

“We mourn with our Haitian community over the tragic events that have unfolded in Haiti in recent weeks. Our Haitian community contributes immeasurably to our shared social, economic, and civic life in Brooklyn and beyond, and it is critical that we stand in solidarity with them during this difficult time,” said Borough President Eric Adams.

“The people of Haiti need our prayers and support during this difficult time,” said Jackson Rockingster, chair of Little Haiti BK and president of the Haitian American Business Network (HABNET). “In Little Haiti, Brooklyn, the atmosphere is tense with fear for our loved ones abroad. Everyone here knows someone in Haiti who is struggling through these tumultuous times.”

“As essential workers, we know the struggles the people of Haiti face,” said Dr. Kelynne J. Oristel, president of the Haitian American Nurses Alliance (HANA). “Many of our members lived, worked or were trained in Haiti as medical professionals. Residents of Haiti relied on our support following the devastating earthquake in 2010. Unfortunately, hardships are continuing.”

Sherbune Paul, Esq, president of the Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York, emphasized the need for the community to come together, saying “Our Haitian-American community in New York have a shared goal: That is to see peace and unity in Haiti. We all share a cultural background and have friends, relatives and loved ones living abroad, and we all wish for peace for the country.”

“In times of struggle, we all need to support one another. The National Action Network stands in solidarity with the Haitian-American community through this tumultuous time because none of us can thrive until everyone can. We are hosting this prayer vigil to stand with our Haitian-American brothers and sisters, shed light on this scourge on Haiti and encourage other communities to get involved in this time of crisis,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network.

“The ‘Pray for Haiti’ vigil encourages the community to come together. As scripture tells us, ‘Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.’” Rev. Dr. Samuel Nicolas, president of the Haitian Clergy Association, said.

Little Haiti Bk, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose mission is to preserve, harness, showcase and celebrate the academic, civic, commercial, health, religious and other socio-cultural institutions of people of Haitian ancestry within the boundaries of Little Haiti Bk.

Little Haiti was designated as a cultural and business district by the NYC Council in 2018. Little Haiti encompasses East 16th Street to Brooklyn Avenue, and Parkside Avenue to Avenue H.

Source:

https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2021/07/25/brooklyns-little-haiti-pays-homage-with-local-prayer-vigil/

New York City-based Haitian-American Organizations, Rev. Al Sharpton and Elected Officials Hold Prayer Vigil for Haiti

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 16:00:00 GMT

Little Haiti BK, in partnership with the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, Haitian-American community organizations and the National Action Network will hold a prayer vigil for Haiti on Sunday, July 25 at 1:30 p.m., at Newkirk Avenue between Nostrand and E. 29th Street in Brooklyn, New York.

The vigil is a community-led event, providing an outlet for New York-based Haitian-Americans and allies to unite in prayer for the people of Haiti. Brooklyn is home to the second-largest population of Haitian-Americans in the United States.

The people of Haiti have faced political instability, food insecurity and turmoil following the assassination of the country’s president on July 7.

Click here to read more...

Statement on the Assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 19:00:00 GMT

Statement by Haitian American Lawyers Association President Sherbune Paul on the Assassination of President Jovenel Moïse

This morning we learned that President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated at his private residence in Pèlerin, Port-au-Prince, yesterday evening. His beloved wife, First Lady Martine Moïse was also critically injured during the horrific attack and hospitalized. As of now, the perpetrators of this terrible act are unknown. In the wake of this tragedy, I pray for the Moïse Family and I ask that you take a moment of silence in their honor today.

As Haiti continues to grapple with political instability and violence, I am committed, now more than ever, to work towards a better tomorrow for Haitians living in Haiti, America and abroad. Always remember, l’union fait la force, unity is what makes us strong. We are a resilient people and we will persevere. My sincere hope is for Haiti to rebuild and form a strong government that is able to provide peace, stability and prosperity to Haitian people. Until then, we will continue to amplify Haitian voices in the legal field and advocate for a better tomorrow for Haitians everywhere.

President Jovenel Moïse assassinated

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 13:30:00 GMT

President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated at his home in Pèlerin, Port-au-Prince overnight, interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph wrote in a statement.

First Lady Martine Moïse was also shot and is being treated at the hospital, Joseph said.

Contrary to other reports, Le Nouvelliste senior editor Frantz Duval said Martine Moïse isn’t dead and that she will be evacuated to a foreign hospital.

The gunmen were unidentified, Joseph said. They were speaking in Spanish.

Sunrise Airways has cancelled all flights in Haiti and the Dominican Republic closed its border with Haiti.

Haitian-Americans woke up this morning to news that Moïse had been assassinated in the middle of the night at his home. On social media and as they got ready for their day, many expressed sadness at not only the death of the country’s head of states, but also what it means for the country. Click to Read More...

As Haiti plunges deeper into turmoil, a social media rallying cry emerges: #FreeHaiti

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 00:26:00 GMT

It was born out of collective frustration and helplessness, springing to life in a shocking act of violence: a botched raid on a gang stronghold in a Port-au-Prince slum that left at least four Haitian police officers dead, another missing, and their armored vehicles and high-caliber automatic weapons seized.

Within hours of the ill-fated Friday operation in the Village de Dieu, or Village of God slum, the hashtag #FreeHaiti emerged, riding a wave of anger as videos showed gang members dragging the bodies of two slain cops.

Click to read more...

In Bipartisan Effort Senators Urge Biden Administration To Halt Haitian Deportations

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 14:54:03 GMT

The National Immigration Center reported the number of asylum requests processed has dropped dramatically while deportations surge. In response to immigration advocates, the Biden administration announced it would review the use of the Title 42 program. But deportations have continued. As previously reported by NewsOne, immigration and human rights advocates demanded the Biden Administration stop deporting Haitians given the well-documented instability in the country. Homeland Security has previously acknowledged the likelihood of harm to Haitians sent back to the island nation.

Click to read more...

Haiti civic leaders and former US diplomat to House Foreign Affairs: ‘Haiti is a mess’

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 14:45:00 GMT

Kidnapped women and girls are gang raped and subject to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. A federation of influential armed gangs have their demands met by the government, while illegal weapons, banned under a U.S. arms embargo, freely enter the country.

With such a volatile social, economic and political crisis, elections organized under Haitian President Jovenel Moïse will not work and will not be seen as legitimate by the people, three Haiti-born civic leaders and a former U.S. ambassador to the country told the House Foreign Affairs Committee Friday.

The virtual meeting came after Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s answered questions Wednesday during a hearing on U.S. foreign policy about Moïse’s abuse of power during the 15 months he has been ruling by decree. Blinken expressed worry about the nation’s worsening predicament.

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article249877598.html#storylink=cpy

Click here to read more...

Rubio, Menendez Urge Biden Administration to Re-designate Haiti for TPS

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 15:52:11 GMT

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Biden Administration to re-designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). In their letter, the Senators cite the importance of reinstating protection to eligible Haitians in the United States that are unable to return safely to their homeland due to a compounding set of devastation from national disasters, political unrest, and extraordinary conditions facing the island. Click to read more...

HALANY's Call To Action

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 16:01:30 GMT

HALANY has committed to four actions and initiatives to tackle the virus of racism. Please find below, resources from our event entitled Tackling the Virus of Racism: A Call to Action.

Virus of Racism - Get Involved.pdf

Call to Action - Clickable Link Virus of Racism -.pdf

NYS Judges of Color Statement Regarding Duties as Jurist and Commitment to Equal Treatment

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 22:57:02 GMT

The Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York is proud to stand with our Judicial brothers and sisters, in promoting inclusion, diversity and equity in the legal system. This signed letter by 122 New York State judges, is a testament to their continued vigilance and support for equality in the justice system.

NYS-Judges-of-Color-Statement-Regarding-Duties-as-Jurist-and-Commitment-to-Equal-Treatment.pdf

June 15, 2020: HALANY Response to Systemic Racism

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 12:30:00 GMT

HALANY Response to Systemic Racism

PRESS RELEASE JUNE 15, 2020

The first half of the year has been cataclysmic. We are in the middle of a once in a generation pandemic. The U.S. economy all but collapsed in March. During these difficult times, the scourge of systemic racism continues to destroy black lives. On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery was fatally shot while taking a jog by a white father and son, where the pair held themselves out as Mr. Arbery’s judge, jury and executioner, for the simple crime of exercising while black. On March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor, was fatally shot in her own home while police officers executed a no-knock search warrant. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was suffocated to death by a white police officer who knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Mr. Floyd's death rightfully sparked outrage in the heart of not only black people, but amongst diverse communities in this nation. In the aftermath of Mr. Floyd's death, we have seen worldwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism. Just three days ago, on June 12, 2020, Rayshard Brooks was fatally shot by an Atlanta police officer while being apprehended at a Wendy’s drive-through. These are but four instances in a matter of months. Their names are now added to a somber list of people of color dying at the hands of law enforcement; that list includes Eleanor Bumpurs, Anthony Baez, Amadou Diallo, Patrick Dorismond, Sean Bell, Eric Garner and countless other names… and that’s just in New York City.

The Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York (HALANY) unequivocally condemns the systemic racism and abuse of power that we have witnessed over the last month. We identify with the peaceful protests in American streets and around the world. We support them wholeheartedly; their cause is our cause. Indeed, Haitians are no strangers to challenging the status quo and fighting for change. In 1804, our forefathers took on their oppressors and turned Haiti into the first free black republic in the Western hemisphere. We can achieve great things when we come together and say enough is enough. We understand the cry of our brothers and sisters who cry out, "I can't breathe!"

HALANY's membership consists of attorneys and future attorneys of color. The current convulsion in our society affects our members directly. We have to speak out in the face of injustice and inequity. And so we say, the color of our skin should not be a death sentence for us in this country. History has shown that we are not safe because of the color of our skin, not even from the very people who have sworn to uphold the law and to protect us.

HALANY will continue to fight to make sure that our society achieves true equality. As attorneys, we will work to uphold the tenets of due process. We will advocate fiercely for every citizen to have their voices heard at the ballot box. We will also work within our communities to encourage the completion of the 2020 Census to bring funds and services into our communities. And will work with elected officials to enact reforms of law enforcement to make sure that the phrase "I can't breathe!" is no longer uttered by a black person struggling to hold on to life.

On June 24, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. HALANY will present a panel discussion entitled “Tackling the Virus of Racism - A Call to Action.” A dialogue that will focus on racism, policing, necessary reforms, and what we can do. Join the conversation.

Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York

New York federal judge blocks Trump administration from ending TPS for Haitians

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 22:53:02 GMT

Accusing the Trump administration of being motivated by politics and not facts, a second U.S. federal judge is blocking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from forcing tens of thousands of Haitians to return to Haiti by ending their temporary legal protection.

Click here to read more...

TPS extended for Haitians and three other groups

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 01:35:04 GMT

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration said Thursday it will extend special immigration protections for Haiti and three other countries until January 2020.

The decision by the Department of Homeland Security, announced Thursday, gives thousands of Haitians an additional six-month reprieve from deportation, but holders of Temporary Protected Status still face uncertainty as the Trump administration continues to fight in the courts to end the program.

The decision affects Haitians, Salvadorans, Nicaraguans and Sudanese in the United States.

Continue reading here...

The Denationalization of Dominican Haitians

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 08:13:04 GMT

As you know we are at a critical juncture as it pertains to the deportation of Dominicans of Haitian descent. We expect that any minute now the Dominican government will start their deportation process. HALANY, in conjunction with HALANJ and other activist organizations have been busy trying to bring public attention to this matter.

Our board Chair Ralph Delouis was on the Ebro in the Morning radio program on Hot 97 this morning doing a great job of discussing the issues taking place in the Dominican Republic.

LISTEN NOW

It should be noted, as result of Ralph sharing his tweet demanding that the White House call on the Dominican Embassy. Ebro retweeted it to all his HOT 97 listeners. That's how it's done folks.

If you want to learn more about the history of the relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and the impetus for the planned deportation of Dominicans of Haitian descent, the following is a recent article written by a group from John Hopkins University, of which our very own V.P. Ritha Pierre's cousin, Grace Cineas, was a contributor.

Additionally, there is a rally planned this Saturday, June 20 from 9am - 12pm in the Bronx at Webster Avenue and Fordham Road to protest the deportations. We hope you will be able to join in solidarity! Finally, there has been additional articles and coverage on this issue and we encourage all of you to educate yourself and others about these ongoing human and civil rights violations.

Saturday, June 20th Rally Information:

https://www.facebook.com/events/872159769488624/

News Articles and Media Coverage:

The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/06/16/the-bloody-origins-of-the-dominican-republics-ethnic-cleansing-of-haitians/?tid=sm_fb

NPR

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2015/06/16/dominican-republic-deportations

NY1 Noticias

http://www.ny1noticias.com/nyc/twc-ny1-noticias/noticias/2015/06/17/dominicanos-en-ny-reaccionan-frente-a-plan-nacional-de-regularizaci-n-vencido.html

NewsOne Now with Roland Martin:

http://newsone.com/3125359/dominican-republic-deport-haitian-workers-ethnic-cleansing/