The mayor of North Miami is calling for the U.S. to continue its halt of deportations to Haiti for the foreseeable future, as aid began slowly making its way to residents who still urgently need help after Hurricane Matthew.
North Miami Mayor Smith Joseph spent Thursday getting an aerial view of southwestern Haiti as crews worked to deliver food and supplies to residents. It's terrible from the air, and there's desperation on the ground as thousands continue to sleep outside.
"They have delivered goods and the minute that they deliver the goods then they distributed them to the people and it's like nothing was done. It's like a drop in the ocean," Joseph said.
The U.S. has temporarily halted any deportations to Haiti because of the destruction Matthew caused but Joseph believes the U.S. should continue its halt of deportations not just temporarily but for the foreseeable future, something that could have a big impact on South Florida.
"Not just a halt but to stop deportation and expand TPS for the Haitians who are living in Haiti and are looking for the American dream like everybody else," Joseph said.
The TPS, or Temporary Protected Status, would give Haitians a coveted protection. The U.S. policy shows it's allowed in an environmental disaster, such as an earthquake or hurricane, or an epidemic.
On Thursday's journey with the task force assigned to get food to western Haiti, we saw men racing to a helicopter that had just landed in what normally is a soccer field. The Army pilots are back in sky almost as quickly as they came.
None of the flights can operate at night and the roads out in the areas are still impassable in some areas. So there is another night of hunkering down but at least with food in one town.
