TAMPA, Fla. — The newly appointed Haitian Consulate of Orlando visited Tampa for a special meeting with city leaders and the Haitian community.

This meeting follows a judge blocking plans to terminate the legal status of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela on April 24.


What You Need To Know

  • The newly appointed Haitian Consulate of Orlando visited Tampa for a special meeting with city leaders and the Haitian community

  • Consulate Nedgie Phanord says she’s ready to engage during a time of uncertainty for Haitian immigrants in the U.S.

  • This meeting follows a judge blocking plans to terminate the legal status of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela on April 24

  • The Haitian Consulate of Orlando serves 54 counties in Central Florida

In light of ongoing U.S. immigration policy changes, Haitian consulates have become critical in bridging information gaps.

Due to the growing need, the town hall explored ways to utilize this resource more effectively.

Consulate Nedgie Phanord says she’s ready to engage during a time of uncertainty for Haitian immigrants in the U.S.

Still, the mission remains consistent: to serve as a link between Haitian nationals and their host country. 

Phanord reiterated that during a town hall in Tampa. 

“We’re here for the Haitian community,” Phanord said in Haitian Creole. “Without the community, there is no consulate. We exist to serve you and accompany you in the work that we are doing.”

The three Haitian consulates in Florida are tasked with ensuring that immigrants, especially those who may be facing deportation, receive essential legal and administrative support. 

Global immigration consultant Danielle Wainwright explains what the ruling means. 

“Temporarily, the judge said that this program will continue,” said Wainwright. “It will not end on April 24 as President Trump wanted it to, and anyone who is here under the Biden program, they will continue with the same date that they had.” 

 Wainwright says it’s a temporary victory for immigrants.

“Doing mass deportation would have been negative for the Haitian population in general, both in Haiti and here. We know the conditions are not livable, we know gang members are still prevalent. We know the political climate is not conducive to a regular life,” said Wainright.

While the Haitian community continues to grapple with the unknown, the consulate states it intends to keep them “in the know” as much as possible. She says the goal is to ensure they maintain a high quality of life, regardless of the duration of their stay.  

The Haitian Consulate of Orlando serves 54 counties in Central Florida. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there are more than 41,000 Haitians in the area, making Central Florida home to the second-highest population of Haitians in the state. 

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Security Tricia McLaughlin issued the following statement to Spectrum News:

“CHNV was an unlawful scheme to unleash over 530,000 poorly vetted aliens into America, fueling crime and stealing jobs—forcing our agents in the field to ignore rampant fraud. While this ruling delays justice and undermines the integrity of our immigration system, Secretary Noem will use every legal option at the Department’s disposal to end this chaos, prioritizing the safety of Americans.”