The Trump administration has announced that it is ending the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 500,000 Haitians, a decision that reverses the extension granted by President Joe Biden. TPS, a humanitarian program, provides temporary relief from deportation for foreign nationals unable to return to their home countries due to conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances.
Under Biden, TPS for Haitians was extended by 18 months, with protection set to last until February 2026. However, under the new directive, TPS will expire on August 3.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a statement, emphasized that “President Trump and I are returning TPS to its original status: temporary.” The move is in line with Trump’s broader efforts to dismantle immigration policies he deems conducive to illegal immigration.
The number of Haitians eligible for TPS has surged from 57,000 in 2011 to an estimated 520,694 in 2024, according to U.S. government data. The extension authorized by the Biden administration, Noem argued, was “far longer than justified or necessary.”
Critics of the decision, including Beatriz Lopez, Co-Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, argue that the move destabilizes the lives of hundreds of thousands of Haitians who have integrated into American communities, contributing as workers, parents, and neighbors. “This reckless decision doesn’t just harm them; it undermines businesses, families, and local economies reliant on them,” Lopez said.
The Trump administration’s move to revoke TPS for Haitians follows a similar action last month to strip protections from over 600,000 Venezuelans.
This decision also follows Trump’s controversial remarks during his campaign, where he baselessly claimed Haitian migrants were responsible for violent acts in Ohio.
Haiti, still reeling from a devastating earthquake in 2010, continues to suffer from political instability and escalating violence by armed groups.
Despite efforts to stabilize the situation, including the election of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime and a UN-backed security mission, gang violence remains rampant. According to the UN, at least 5,601 people were killed by gang violence in Haiti in 2024.
