Trump Administration Plans to Terminate Deportation Relief for Haitians Living in the United States
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem plans to end deportation protections for approximately 521,000 Haitians, marking the Trump administration’s continued efforts to reduce legal status for migrants as deportations increase. Earlier this year, Noem shortened the duration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for these individuals, which is set to expire on September 2, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. President Donald Trump has aggressively sought to tighten immigration policies since taking office, promoting a hardline stance that has also seen the termination of TPS for about 350,000 Venezuelans, along with others from Afghanistan and Cameroon.
The Supreme Court recently allowed the administration to proceed with ending TPS for Venezuelans, suggesting that other similar policy shifts could follow. TPS is a humanitarian program initiated by Congress in 1990, designed for citizens from countries facing significant challenges, such as natural disasters or armed conflict. Before the expiration of TPS, the Homeland Security Secretary is tasked with assessing whether to renew, expand, or terminate the status. Haitian immigrant Abigail Desravines expressed the uncertainty faced by TPS holders, emphasizing the need for regular renewals and the constant worry of status termination.
The administration claims that conditions in Haiti have improved enough for citizens to return, although specific details outlining these improvements were not provided. Contrarily, advocates argue that the situation in Haiti remains dire. The country has not conducted an election in nearly a decade, and the aftermath of President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination in 2021 has left a power vacuum filled by armed gangs, leading to violence, homelessness, and starvation. Reports indicate that over 5,600 people were killed in gang violence last year, with over a million displaced within the country.
Despite this, the Trump administration has reduced funding originally planned to support a U.N. mission aimed at stabilizing Haiti.