The Trump administration announced on Thursday, February 20, the cancellation of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extension granted to over 500,000 Haitians by former President Joe Biden.
TPS is a program that allows foreign nationals to remain in the United States if they cannot return home due to war, natural disasters, or other “extraordinary” conditions. Under Biden, TPS for Haitians had been extended by 18 months, lasting until February 2026. However, this extension will now expire on August 3.
Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem stated, “President Trump and I are returning TPS to its original status: temporary.” She further emphasized, “This is part of President Trump’s promise to rescind policies that were magnets for illegal immigration and inconsistent with the law,” according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement.
The number of Haitians eligible for TPS has increased significantly, from 57,000 in 2011 to 520,694 in 2024, based on U.S. government estimates. The DHS spokeswoman criticized the extended TPS as “far longer than justified or necessary.”
Upon returning to office, Trump swiftly ordered a review of the entire TPS program. During his campaign, he made unfounded claims about Haitian migrants in Ohio City, alleging they were responsible for stealing and eating local pets.
Beatriz Lopez, Co-Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, criticized the move, saying, “The Trump administration is ripping stability away from half a million Haitians who have built their lives here — children, workers, parents, and neighbors who have become integral to American communities and contributed to our economy. This reckless decision doesn’t just harm them; it destabilizes the very businesses, families, and local economies that rely on them.”
This action follows last month’s decision to revoke protection from deportation for over 600,000 Venezuelans living in the United States.
“The people of this country want these dirtbags out. They want their communities to be safe,” Noem said during an interview on Fox News in January.
Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2010, has faced ongoing political instability and more recently has been plagued by rising violence from armed groups.
