What is the urgency?
July 27 was the last day of TPS (Temporary Protected Status) protection for Haitian immigrants. Haiti has been designated under Temporary Protected Status since 2010 when the island nation was devastated by an earthquake. Because of ongoing violence and instability, TPS status has been renewed periodically since then, allowing around 330,000 Haitians to remain in the U.S. But a recent Supreme Court ruling in Mullin v. Doe allowed the Trump administration to end TPS for Haitians and begin a process of deportation. The Supreme Court did not rule on conditions in Haiti. In fact, on July 10, 2025, the State Department posted a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” Advisory: “Do Not Travel to Haiti for any reason due to the risk of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, unrest, and limited health care.” There are no commercial flights currently flying in or out of Port-au-Prince.
How are you connected to this crisis?
You are part of the rich diversity of the California-Pacific Annual Conference which brings you into connection with thousands of life journeys, including those of our Haitian siblings in Christ who worship at Exodus UMC in San Diego. Pastor Jean Elise Durandisse leads this congregation which regularly gathers more than 200 people in worship and stays connected to the thousands of Haitians in San Diego County and Tijuana.
This week, Pastor Durandisse shared that some of his members have now lost their jobs, creating serious financial hardship for their families. He has been at the courthouse supporting members dealing with immigration proceedings. Some members are now being required to wear ankle monitors.
How can you help?
We often feel helpless in the swirling urgency of world events – emergencies come at us so quickly. In this case, we can offer concrete assistance with measurable impact– maybe for 10 people…maybe for 100.
Give to the Safe Harbors Network for this emergency work.
The Safe Harbors Network Fund is administered by Christ Ministry Center, which houses the Haitian congregation in San Diego. To be sure that you receive a tax deductible receipt for your donation, please email Rev. Dr. Donald Owens, Executive Director, director@cummc.org.
How will these funds be used?
How will the Annual Conference and District Immigration Team help?
Since the beginning of this immigration crisis, our Annual Conference has been committed to building a movement of resistance, accompaniment, and advocacy, while cultivating relationships. Our Christian faith and Wesleyan values now urgently call us to commit to accompanying our brothers and sisters at Exodus UMC and throughout the Haitian community as they face uncertainty surrounding the end of TPS. To this end, our Immigration Ministries Office is prepared to offer specific assistance as part of our commitment.
Recognizing the trust and relationships already present within the community, we will partner with local legal organizations that are on the ground and already serving Haitian families. Through these partnerships, we will support and strengthen efforts to provide Know Your Rights education, legal screenings, family preparedness, pastoral care, and emergency response.
As legal screenings identify individuals and families who may need ongoing immigration representation or deportation defense, we anticipate a significant need for financial resources to help ensure that those facing removal proceedingshave access to qualified legal counsel. A designated fund has been established to receive donations that will help provide legal assistance and deportation defense to those most in need. Your financial support is an important part of our commitment to ensuring that no one faces the end of TPS alone.
It is a gift for us to be connected as United Methodists – to be able to do more together than we can do alone, creating a shared legacy of care and compassion in the face of crisis.
Contact our Cal-Pac Immigration Coordinator, Monalisa Tu’itahi (mtu’itahi@calpacumc.org), or contact DS Luis Garcia (dssouth@calpacumc.org) for additional information or offers of assistance.