[Attorney] What's in here?"
[narrator] Ask any immigrant and he'll tell you,
papers are important.
[Attorney] This is immigration, this is immigration, this is immigration...
[Client] Too much!
[narrator] After the January earthquake in Haiti,
papers became even more important.
[Attorney] Oh, they sent you your work authorization,
very good.
[narrator] Haitians living in the U.S. when
the earthquake hit can now apply for Temporary Protected Status.
This United Methodist clinic in Orlando is helping with the process.
Mayuris Pimentel is an attorney with Justice for our Neighbors.
[Mayuris Pimentel] It gives people the opportunity to come
out of the shadows and have permission to work and so be
able to go out for better jobs.
[narrator] Justice for Our Neighbors -or J-FON-- offers
free legal services and provides hospitality and
assistance to those in need.
Client Franz Petit-Frere has been in
the U.S. for ten years.
He fled Haiti when his life was threatened by members of
an opposing political party.
A family member was killed during his escape.
[Franz Petit-Frere] It was really terrible.
[narrator] He believes he will be killed if he returns,
but the U.S. denied his application for political asylum.
[narrator] Immigration attorneys' fees can run into
the thousands but many in this Haitian community live at or
below the poverty level.
The Reverend Thomas Toussaint says the model is a
salvation for many immigrants.
[Thomas Toussaint] They say, I could not make it without JFON!
Thanks God!
[narrator] TPS won't allow clients like Franz to bring
his relatives to the U.S.
For a decade, he's had to experience his 7 children
growing--up through photographs and phone calls.
[Franz Petit-Frere] They say, "I love you."
You see it?
It says "I love you!"
[narrator] But Franz will be able to work legally as long as
he has temporary status, paying taxes
and sending money back home to a family
who he hopes he'll hold in his arms again someday.
[Franz Petit-Frere] Oh, very missing!
I love us!
When me think about us, I'm cry.
I cry, man.
