Homeland Security to End Temporary Protected Status for Haitians

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians will terminate on August 3, Bloomberg reports.

This decision will impact hundreds of thousands of Haitians currently residing in the United States under this protection. The termination date is approximately six months prior to the early 2026 expiration date set by an extension granted under the previous administration.

TPS grants eligible individuals from designated countries, facing conditions such as natural disasters or armed conflict, the permission to live and work in the US.

Haitians were initially granted TPS in 2010 following a devastating earthquake, and their participation in the program has been extended multiple times since then. DHS estimates that over 520,000 Haitians may be eligible for TPS due to these repeated extensions and expansions, although the National Immigration Forum estimated enrollment at around 200,000 as of August.

The DHS stated that the termination aims to restore integrity to the TPS system, alleging it has been misused.

Previous attempts to end TPS for Haitians faced legal challenges. The prior administration’s effort to end the protection in 2019 was blocked in federal court, and the subsequent administration extended the shield.

The TPS program has been subject to scrutiny, with some arguing that its benefits have been applied too broadly. Lawmakers have noted that many migrants from countries like El Salvador and Honduras have resided in the US under TPS for over two decades.

Earlier this year, DHS rescinded an extension of TPS for migrants from Venezuela and other countries.

A lawsuit has been filed in federal court challenging the termination of TPS for Venezuelans, alleging discriminatory motives.