The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it is widening efforts to deport Haitians, a response to thousands of immigrants from the Caribbean nation who overwhelmed California border crossings with Mexico in recent months.
The move announced Thursday lifts special protections that shielded Haitians from deportation after their nation's 2010 earthquake. Since 2011, U.S. authorities have avoided deporting Haitians unless they were convicted of serious crimes or posed a national security threat. Now they will be treated like people from other countries.
Secretary Jeh Johnson said the new posture doesn't apply to Haitians who got temporary status to live and work in the U.S. after the earthquake and have remained in the country since January 2011.
More than 7,000 Haitian refugees are expected to cross Southern California borders and seek refuge in San Diego in the coming months.
In the last 10 months, at least 3,508 Haitians have crossed through ports of entry located in San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, Calexico East and West and Andrade, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Many of those refugees have ended up in Tijuana, where in recent days, hundreds have gathered at shelters waiting to cross through San Ysidro.
