The Trump administration has rolled back an 18-month extension of legal immigration protections for over half a million Haitians living in the US, citing a return to “integrity” after previous extensions under the Biden administration. The decision has sparked widespread condemnation from advocates and lawmakers, who warn that it will put Haitian citizens at risk.
The Department of Homeland Security announced that Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections, which provide deportation defenses and work permits, will now end on August 3. This move comes despite concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, where armed gangs have taken control of up to 90% of Port-au-Prince.
Critics argue that the administration is ignoring the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Haiti, where the US has invested over $620 million in a UN-led security mission. Haitian leaders and advocates are urging Congress to extend TPS for Haitian recipients and protect their right to safety and stability.
“This decision is a huge blow to Haiti, which faces a violent collapse led by armed gangs,” said Guerline Jozef, head of the San Diego-based Haitian Bridge Alliance. “Sending Haitians back now would be a death sentence.”
The US had previously extended TPS for Haiti through February 2026 under President Biden’s administration, citing simultaneous economic, security, political, and health crises in the country. The Trump administration has rolled back this extension, sparking concerns that it will follow suit with Venezuelans, who have already seen their protection period cut short.
Advocates are vowing to take action in court to challenge the decision, while lawmakers like Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson of Miami have condemned the move as “outrageous” and part of a “reign of terror.”
Source: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article300685139.html