"Immediately after the quake, about 200,000 Haitians living in the United States without proper documents were granted "temporary protected status," which allowed them to work -- and send money home -- without fear of deportation. That single step may be the greatest contribution America has made towards Haiti's reconstruction to date. That's because the 535,000 Haitian migrants in the United States send home money -- remittances -- worth as much as $2 billion a year." (Quoted from article)