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Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced on June 27 the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. This decision affects approximately 500,000 Haitians who were previously granted legal permission to reside in the United States, placing them at risk of deportation.
An unnamed spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security stated, "This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary." The spokesperson added that "the environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home."
However, this assessment contrasts with a current State Department advisory against travel to Haiti. The advisory warns Americans not to travel there due to "kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care," categorizing it as “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” which signifies the highest advisory level due to life-threatening risks.
In a Federal Register notice set for publication on July 1, Noem described the situation in Haiti as "concerning" but emphasized that "the United States must prioritize its national interests." The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince recently acknowledged some resumption of commercial air travel and advised Americans in Haiti to leave "as soon as possible."
The DHS spokesperson encouraged affected individuals to use department resources for returning to Haiti through the CBP Home app. They also mentioned that Haitian nationals might seek lawful status through other immigration benefit requests if eligible.
The U.S. Catholic bishops have previously advocated for maintaining TPS designation for countries like Haiti. Many Haitian immigrants live in the Miami metro area, where local officials expressed concerns about potential impacts on their community and economy.
During the 2024 campaign, unfounded claims regarding Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio were spread by Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance. These claims were disputed by local officials across party lines.
The TPS program was established in 1990 to offer protection from deportation for immigrants from countries facing dangerous conditions such as war or disaster.
Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.
