新媒网 · 跨境数据社区

Nearly every Haitian family in Miami carries both the ache of separation and the hope of reunion. The immigrant journey—from leaving home to building a new life—is filled with stories of courage and resilience, but also with deep wounds. In one of the most profound discussions at the 2025 Little Haiti Book Festival, “Retounen Lakay – Protected Status, Policy Shifts, & Deportation,” the community confronts these realities together. A father checking the news each day to see if his Temporary Protected Status will be renewed. A child growing up afraid a parent might not come home. A family stretched thin across oceans and borders. These are not abstract policy debates—they are daily life for many Haitian families. Panelists Ira Kurzban and Paul Christian Namphy—respected voices in immigration law and advocacy—bring clarity to the shifting landscape. They explain the end of protections, the rise in deportations, and the heavy toll these changes take on families already carrying so much. Retounen lakay—"returning home"—is more than a dream; it is a struggle, a fight to hold on to belonging when the ground keeps moving under your feet. The panel highlights the work being done at the grassroots level and reminds us that the Haitian story has always been a story of fierce resistance and unwavering hope—from the fight for independence in 1804 to the ongoing battles today for human rights and dignity. In the faces of those fighting to keep families whole, in the voices demanding justice, the words lespwa fè viv (“hope makes us live”) find their full meaning. Through this powerful conversation, the 2025 Little Haiti Book Festival honors not just Haitian culture, but the indomitable spirit of the Haitian people—and renews the promise to stand together until every Haitian family can feel safe, dignified, and home. This panel is moderated by Carel Pedre. For more information, please visit: https://www.miamibookfair.com/littlehaiti/