The Department of Homeland Security moved Wednesday to suspend the deportations of Haitians in the U.S. illegally.
“In light of Hurricane Matthew, removal flights have been suspended temporarily. Working with the government of Haiti, DHS intends to resume those flights as soon as possible,” DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement released Wednesday evening.
Johnson added he intends to keep with policy changes that were announced on Sept. 22, which had started the removal of illegal Haitian entrants. Removals will resume when it is possible to do so in a “humane and minimally intrusive” manner as possible for Haiti.
The poverty-stricken island was ravaged by Matthew when it was a Category 4 Hurricane, and more than 1,000 people have died.
According to the U.N., more than 1.4 million people in the country need help, and it has called for $120 million in aid.
