Easing refugee immigration into Canada was discussed by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper , and in the US Haitians was granted Temporary protected status , a measure that permit about 100 @,@ 000 illegal alien Haitians in the United States to stay legally for 18 months , and halt the deportations of 30 @,@ 000 more , though it do not apply to Haitians outside the US . Local and state agencies in South Florida , together with the US government , began implementing a plan ( " Operation Vigilant Sentry " ) for a mass migration from the Caribbean that had been laid out in 2003 .