Half a Million Haitians to Lose Deportation Protection, Announces Trump Administration
The US government has announced its plans to terminate the temporary protected status (TPS) for about 500,000 Haitian residents in the nation in August, as per a statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security. This decision comes despite escalating violence and deteriorating circumstances in the Caribbean nation. According to the United Nations, gangs now control around 85% of the capital, and instances of sexual violence against children have seen a tenfold increase in the past year.
TPS, a provision that offers protection to nationals of designated countries facing unsafe conditions like armed conflicts or environmental calamities, has been granted to Haitians since 2010 and is set to expire on August 3, 2025. As a result of this termination, these individuals will lose their work permits and may face deportation.
The Trump administration, which has been actively restructuring the US immigration system, had previously announced plans to end TPS for Venezuelans residing in the US. However, this decision is currently under legal scrutiny by the National TPS Alliance.
The Department of Homeland Security argues that the TPS system has been misused for years, enabling Haitians who entered the US illegally to qualify for legal protection. However, the announcement has not been without its critics. The escalating gang violence in Haiti claimed the lives of over 5,600 people last year, and the UN reported that families are struggling to survive in temporary shelters, facing increasing health and safety risks.
Democratic Representative Ayanna Pressley criticized the decision as "shameful," particularly given the current "unspeakable violence" in Haiti. She asserted that Haitians who have resided in the US for 15 years are now at risk of deportation solely for being of Haitian origin.
During his presidential campaign, Trump made an unfounded accusation that illegal immigrants from Haiti were consuming domestic pets in a small city in Ohio. Officials from the city confirmed that there were no credible reports to support this claim. John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council at the time, dismissed the claim as a "conspiracy theory," suggesting that it was driven by racial bias.