US officials announced on Thursday that they are ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 520,000 Haitian immigrants living in the United States without permanent residency. The decision, made by the Trump administration, would force many to return to their home country of Haiti.
Haiti is currently experiencing severe humanitarian crises, including environmental disasters, gang violence, and kidnappings, which have pushed the country into poverty. In response to these challenges, the Biden administration extended TPS for Haitian immigrants until February 2026.
The decision has left many in the Haitian community in shock, with some reporting “nonstop” calls for assistance from local aid groups like Haitian Americans United for Progress. The group provides social services, education, and legal help to Haitian immigrants in New York City.
Haiti is home to nearly a quarter of the US’s 731,000 Haitian immigrant population, with approximately 163,000 living in the New York City metropolitan area alone. Most reside in Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Flatbush, East Flatbush, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
The Trump administration claims that TPS has been “abused” for decades, but critics argue this decision is part of a larger agenda to restrict immigration from certain countries. This move comes after the administration also ended TPS for 300,000 Venezuelans earlier this month.
Source: https://gothamist.com/news/haitians-in-nyc-reel-as-trump-ends-deportation-relief-for-immigrants-from-the-island-nation