WORCESTER, Mass. — On Saturday, a clinic in Worcester will help Haitian families apply for or renew their temporary protected status.

The African Community Education and Friendly House are partnering to host the event. 

The U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services expanded TPS eligibility to include Haitian individuals and families who have been in the country since June 3, 2024.

The Friendly House said more than 150 people have already registered for the clinic, and they'll hold another clinic in August to help more. 

“Many of them already have their work authorization, but it is set to expire based on their asylum or their parole status — so they are looking to apply for TPS so that their status can be extended” Jillian Phillips, program director of the Office of New Americans at the Friendly House, said. “They will be moved out of deportation hearings, and they will be able to extend their work authorization to continue working. The majority of the families that have come today are working. And it's really imperative that we are able to continue their work authorization so our community can keep benefiting from the hard work of these new arrivals."

The clinic is open to non-shelter residents in Worcester, Auburn, Leicester and Shrewsbury. 

It runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 6 Institute Road.