More than 520,000 Haitian refugees living in the United States will lose their protected status this summer, a decision that echoes the hardline policies of the Trump administration. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has confirmed that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will end for Haitian nationals, forcing many to return to a country still ravaged by poverty, violence, and instability.
Haiti first received TPS in 2010 following the catastrophic earthquake that killed up to 300,000 people and devastated the nation’s infrastructure. In the aftermath, millions were left without basic services, while criminal gangs seized control of the country, making it increasingly dangerous for civilians to live there. Despite efforts to provide aid, Haiti remains in a dire state, as the country’s population struggles with inadequate healthcare, widespread anarchy, and insufficient access to clean water.
Under the Obama administration, TPS allowed Haitians to stay and work in the U.S. despite not having legal status. However, under Noem’s directive, that protection will expire, and refugees will face deportation by August 3.
The move marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, one that is consistent with former President Trump’s harsh stance on immigration, which included unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants and promises to deport them if he gained power.
