Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti

Introduction to the Crisis

NEW YORK, CMC – Caribbean immigration advocates on Friday denounced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti amid the French-speaking Caribbean country’s escalating humanitarian catastrophe.

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday announced the termination of TPS, leaving over 500,000 Haitians without work permits and facing deportation.

The temporary parole programme will expire for Haitians on August 3, and the termination will take effect on Tuesday, September 2.

Reactions from Advocates

“The Trump administration’s decision to end TPS for Haiti is a cruel attack on Haitian New Yorkers and is another example of this administration’s ongoing efforts to destabilize immigrant communities and tear families apart,” Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

With more than 125,000 Haitians living in New York, Awawdeh said Trump’s move threatens the futures of Haitian New Yorkers who have lived, worked, raised families, and built their lives in the state.

“Haitians are our family members, neighbors, our healthcare workers, our business owners–people who are vital to the social and economic fabric of New York,” he said. “Forcibly removing them and sending them back to the instability and violence they once fled is brutal and inhumane.”

Demands for Action

Awawdeh said the Trump administration has no justifiable reason to put Haitian New Yorkers on a fast track to deportation other than “politics and cruelty”, calling on the New York Congressional Delegation and Congress to” act now and provide permanent protections for all TPS holders and stand against Trump’s cruel policies.”

The San Diego, California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) also condemned TPS termination for more than 521,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States,

“This catastrophic decision will not only separate families but force thousands to return to a country the US government itself has deemed unsafe,” HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef told CMC, noting that TPS was first granted to Haitians following the 2010 earthquake, which killed over 220,000 people and destroyed critical infrastructure.

The Crisis in Haiti

Since then, Jozef said Haiti has been rocked by a series of cascading crises—including the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, rampant gang violence, fuel and food insecurity, and the collapse of democratic governance.

According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM), as of May 2025, over 1.3 million people in Haiti are internally displaced, many fleeing armed gangs that now control over 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Jozef said the US State Department continues to issue a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning for Haiti, citing widespread kidnappings, violent crime, and near-total collapse of emergency services.

Condemnation of the Decision

“This is not just cruel—it’s state-sanctioned endangerment,” she said, referring to the termination of TPS for Haiti. “Sending back hundreds of thousands of people to a country overrun by gangs, where hospitals are shuttered and food is scarce, is a direct assault on Black immigrant communities. It’s not about policy. It’s about dehumanization.”

Jozef said Trump’s termination of TPS for Haiti is “the latest in a long line of anti-Black, anti-immigrant actions, including the mass expulsions of Haitian migrants under Title 42 during his first administration and the continued criminalization of Black asylum seekers while importing White South Africans under the guise of a genocide in South Africa that has not been substantiated.”

Response from the Administration

Noem said on Friday that the decision to terminate TPS for Haiti “restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is temporary.”

A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that “the environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home.

“We encourage these individuals to take advantage of the department’s resources in returning to Haiti, which can be arranged through the CBP (Customs and Border Protection agency) Home app,” the unidentified spokesperson said. “Haitian nationals may pursue lawful status through other immigration benefit requests, if eligible.”

Conclusion

The termination of TPS for Haiti has been met with widespread criticism from advocates and community leaders, who argue that it will have devastating consequences for Haitian immigrants and their families. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the US government will respond to the growing outcry and what steps will be taken to address the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

A: TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to nationals of certain countries who are unable to return to their home country due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

Q: Why was TPS terminated for Haiti?

A: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminated TPS for Haiti, citing improved conditions in the country. However, advocates argue that the conditions in Haiti are still dire and that the termination will put thousands of lives at risk.

Q: What will happen to Haitian nationals who currently hold TPS?

A: Haitian nationals who currently hold TPS will be required to leave the United States or face deportation. They may be eligible to apply for other immigration benefits, but the process is uncertain and may be subject to change.