The Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to end Temporary Protected Status for 500,000 Haitians by August 2025, despite escalating violence and instability in Haiti. Critics decry the decision while the Trump administration defends its stance, citing system abuses.
Trump Administration Moves to Terminate Deportation Protections for Haitians Amid Rising Violence
Trump Administration Moves to Terminate Deportation Protections for Haitians Amid Rising Violence
Over 500,000 Haitians will lose their Temporary Protected Status as the U.S. government announces changes to immigration policy.
The US government is set to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 500,000 Haitians residing in the country, as revealed by the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday. This move is alarming given the escalating crisis in Haiti, where gang violence reportedly affects around 85% of the capital, and the UN reports a staggering 1,000% increase in sexual violence against children over the past year.
Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has aimed to reform various aspects of the immigration system, pledging significant deportations and arrests. During his campaign, Trump made a controversial claim alleging that illegal immigrants from Haiti were involved in bizarre acts, such as consuming domestic pets in a small Ohio city—a claim dismissed as baseless and racist by US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.
Temporary Protected Status, which has been an option for Haitians since a devastating earthquake in 2010, is designed for individuals from countries experiencing unsafe conditions. The termination will take effect on 3 August 2025, leading to the loss of work permits and potential deportation for many. In a similar vein, the Trump administration had previously announced the end of TPS for Venezuelans, currently subject to legal challenges from advocacy groups.
The Department of Homeland Security justified the decision by stating that the TPS process had been misused over the years, allowing individuals who entered the US illegally to obtain protected status. However, the announcement has faced backlash. With reports of over 5,600 fatalities due to gang violence in Haiti last year, and the UN highlighting dire living conditions, critics argue that rescinding TPS is a callous move.
Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley condemned the decision, labeling it as "shameful" against a backdrop of "unspeakable violence" in Haiti, positing that individuals who have resided in the US for 15 years are compelled to confront deportation solely based on their nationality.
