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The Trump administration has officially revoked an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 500,000 Haitian migrants, reversing a decision made by former President Joe Biden.
TPS is granted to foreign nationals who are unable to return to their home countries due to war, natural disasters, or other extreme conditions. The Biden administration had extended TPS for Haitians by 18 months, pushing its expiration to February 2026, but the new decision will now end protections on August 3.
“President Trump and I are returning TPS to its original status: temporary,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified the move as part of Trump’s broader effort to roll back policies it claims encouraged illegal immigration. A DHS spokeswoman argued that Biden’s extension was “far longer than justified or necessary.”
The number of Haitians covered under TPS has surged from 57,000 in 2011 to over 520,000 in 2024, according to U.S. government estimates.
Trump, who has repeatedly made controversial remarks about immigrants, ordered a review of the entire TPS program upon returning to office. During his campaign, he made baseless claims that Haitian migrants in Ohio were stealing and eating pets.
Immigrant advocacy groups strongly condemned the decision.
“The Trump administration is ripping stability away from half a million Haitians who have built their lives here—children, workers, parents, and neighbors who contribute to our economy and communities,” said Beatriz Lopez, Co-Executive Director of the Immigration Hub. “This reckless decision doesn’t just harm them; it destabilizes the businesses, families, and local economies that rely on them.”
The administration’s move follows a similar decision last month to revoke deportation protections for over 600,000 Venezuelans.
Haiti, which suffered a catastrophic earthquake in 2010, has faced decades of political instability and, more recently, a surge in gang violence.
