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WASHINGTON (AP) — The recent actions taken by the Trump administration have resulted in the elimination of protections that previously safeguarded around half a million Haitians from facing deportation. This move means that these individuals will lose their work permits and could potentially be removed from the United States by August.
This decision marks a significant shift and is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to fulfill its campaign pledges to enforce strict immigration policies and reduce the use of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a designation that was greatly expanded during the Biden administration, benefiting nearly 1 million immigrants.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detailed in a statement that it was rescinding a decision made by the Biden administration to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, which allows individuals to reside legally in the country but does not grant a path to citizenship.
Individuals who rely on TPS protections count on the government for renewal to maintain their legal status. Critics, including those within the Republican party as well as the Trump administration, argue that the prolongation of TPS often becomes routine, without considering the current situation in the beneficiaries’ home countries.
Homeland Security voiced concerns about TPS being misused, stating, “For decades the TPS system has been exploited and abused. For instance, Haiti has been designated for TPS since 2010, and the data indicates that each extension has allowed more Haitian nationals, including those who entered the U.S. unlawfully, to gain legal protected status.”
According to DHS, around 57,000 Haitians were initially eligible for TPS in 2011. However, this number surged to approximately 520,694 by July of last year.
Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition and a Haitian American, criticized the government’s decision, asserting, “To send 500,000 people back to a country where there is such a high level of death is utterly inhumane. We hope that as they reconsider their stance, they prioritize humanity over politics.”
Farah Larrieux, a Haitian who has lived in the U.S. since 2005 and has had TPS since 2010, expressed concerns that the policy change reflects a disregard for the situation in Haiti. “Nobody is safe in Haiti,” lamented Larrieux, who owns a communications firm in South Florida, the region with a significant Haitian population. “This disrupts the lives of individuals who have greatly contributed to this country.”
The timeline for possible deportations following the expiration of TPS is currently uncertain. Some individuals may seek alternative forms of protection, and substantial logistical challenges surround the idea of executing large-scale deportations.
Jean Negot Bonheur Delva, Haiti’s migration director, noted that under the Trump administration, only 21 Haitians have been deported, most of whom were already scheduled for deportation during the Biden era. Advocacy group Witness at the Border reported that there were nine flights to Haiti last year.
Delva expressed concerns about the repercussions of mass deportations to Haiti, a nation grappling with extensive violence and where over 1 million individuals are displaced due to gang-related conflicts. “It’s tragic that people who sought a better life must return to such a dire situation,” he stated.
In 2022, more than 5,600 fatalities were reported in Haiti, as documented by the U.N. Many displaced individuals reside in overcrowded makeshift shelters, leading to increasing reports of violence and assaults.
With 85% of the capital under gang control, the level of violence has dramatically escalated, with recent massacres resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians.
In response to the situation, Delva indicated that the Haitian government has formed a commission to provide support for those who are deported. “They are children of Haiti. A mother must embrace her children returning from wherever they may be,” he said.
The TPS framework was established by Congress in 1990 to prevent deportations amid natural disasters or civil unrest, authorizing work permits for limited periods, typically up to 18 months.
By the end of the Biden administration, about 1 million individuals from 17 different countries received TPS, including those from nations such as Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.
The Trump administration has also started terminating protections for Venezuelans, prompting two nonprofit organizations to file a lawsuit in opposition to that decision.
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