The Trump administration has revoked an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 500,000 Haitians, granted by former President Joe Biden. This decision means that the TPS, initially extended to February 2026, will now expire on August 3.
Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem stated that the administration aims to return TPS to its original temporary status. The move is part of President Trump’s promise to rescind policies deemed magnets for illegal immigration and inconsistent with the law.
The number of Haitians eligible for TPS protection has significantly increased, from 57,000 in 2011 to 520,694 in 2024. The Biden administration’s 18-month extension was deemed “far longer than justified or necessary” by a DHS spokeswoman.
Critics argue that this decision will harm not only the affected Haitians but also the businesses, families, and local economies that rely on them. Beatriz Lopez, Co-Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, condemned the move, stating that it “rips stability away” from Haitians who have built their lives in the US.
This decision follows the Trump administration’s revocation of protection from deportation for over 600,000 Venezuelans last month. Haiti has struggled with chronic political instability and increasing violence, with at least 5,601 people killed by gang violence in 2024, according to the UN.
