Earlier today, SEIU's New Media and Immigration teams launched an online action calling on DHS and the Administration to grant TPS to Haitians living in the U.S. This evening, the Obama administration granted TPS to Haitian nationals who were in the U.S. at the time of Tuesday's earthquake--giving them permission to over-stay their visa for the next 18 months.

In response to the announcement, SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina released the following statement:

"On behalf of thousands of Haitian immigrants living in the U.S., SEIU thanks President Obama and Secretary Napolitano for heeding our call and granting Temporary Protective Status (TPS) to some of our nation's most vulnerable immigrants. As the U.S. Haitian community watches with shock and horror at the jarring pictures of their homeland tonight, this critical moral victory offers a much needed sigh of relief.

"SEIU members and leaders have been organizing and advocating for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals since the Bush Administration. TPS is critical now more than ever because it will both stop deportations and permit Haitians to actually work, giving them a way to earn money that they can use for remittances to contribute to the rebuilding efforts to come.

"Few immigrants have suffered more misery and overcome such hardship for a chance to live and work in peace on U.S. soil. At last, temporary protective status offers these courageous Haitian immigrants a fair chance to come out of the shadows and build their lives without constant fear of deportation.

"In the meantime, SEIU commends President Obama's leadership and enthusiastically supports the tremendous response the Administration has taken to provide critical aid to Haiti. At SEIU, we will continue coordinating with the U.S. government and expanding our own Help Haiti Initiative by sending volunteer medical personnel, hosting support centers for families, and encouraging donations at this critical moment for the Haitian people."