Key facts
- Hundreds of thousands of Haitians have lost Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the US.
- A federal judge's order blocking the termination of TPS for Haiti is no longer in effect.
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that individuals without status would be arrested and deported.
- Haiti is described as being racked with crime, violence, and political unrest.
- Over 300,000 Haitians could face deportation if they have not secured alternative immigration status.
- Removal orders for Haitians in immigration courts have surged by 96% in recent months.
Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are facing imminent risk of arrest and deportation after the Trump administration officially ended their Temporary Protected Status (TPS). A US district judge confirmed on Wednesday that her order blocking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from ending TPS for Haiti was no longer in effect, following a Supreme Court ruling that limited judicial review of the program.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that individuals without status would either self-deport or face arrest and deportation. TPS, enacted in 1990, protects individuals in the US from countries facing natural disasters, epidemics, or conflict, making it unsafe to return. According to the advocacy organization FWD.us, TPS holders have contributed an estimated $262 billion to the US economy since 2001, often working in essential industries.
Despite the US government advising against travel to Haiti due to extreme danger, the administration is compelling hundreds of thousands of Haitians to return. Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, called this an "unconscionable abdication of our moral responsibility." More than 300,000 Haitians have lost their TPS and may face deportation if they have not secured other forms of immigration relief, such as asylum or a green card, pathways that do not exist for many who have lived in the US for decades.
Returning to Haiti's life-threatening conditions, marked by gang violence, kidnapping, and collapsed services, is described as "unimaginable" for many. Removal orders for Haitians in immigration courts have surged by 96% between March and June, and immigration officials have begun using ankle monitors to track individuals. Similar risks may face thousands of Syrians who have also lost TPS. Additionally, a US district court allowed the government to end employment authorization for TPS holders from El Salvador, Ukraine, and Sudan.
The loss of work authorization impacts industries already facing labor shortages. Advocates are urging the US Senate to pass legislation, previously approved by the House of Representatives, to extend TPS for Haitians. Haitian TPS holders emphasize their contributions to the US workforce and their desire to remain with their families.