On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 500,000 Haitians residing in the United States, effective August 3, 2025.

This decision comes in stark contrast to the worsening situation in Haiti, where gangs are reported to dominate roughly 85% of the capital. Alarmingly, incidents of sexual violence against minors surged by 1,000% last year, as noted by the United Nations.

TPS is a humanitarian designation granted to nationals from countries enduring unsafe circumstances, such as armed conflict or natural disasters.

Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has initiated significant changes to the U.S. immigration policy, including promises of “mass deportations” and heightened enforcement measures.

Haitians have held TPS since 2010; its impending termination means that they will lose their work authorization, putting them at risk of deportation.

On February 1, the Trump administration also declared that TPS would end for Venezuelans in the U.S., a move currently facing legal opposition from the National TPS Alliance.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, “For decades, the TPS program has been subjected to misuse and exploitation,” indicating that many Haitians who entered the U.S. without authorization have taken advantage of this status.

This announcement has drawn considerable backlash, especially given that over 5,600 individuals lost their lives to gang violence in Haiti last year. The UN reports that many families are forced to live in inadequate conditions, exacerbating their health and safety risks.

Democratic Representative Ayanna Pressley decried the decision as “shameful,” citing “unimaginable violence” in Haiti. She stressed that Haitians who have resided in the U.S. for 15 years face the threat of deportation solely based on their nationality.

During his campaign, Trump controversially claimed that illegal immigrants from Haiti were engaging in bizarre behavior, such as eating pets in a small city in Ohio. However, local officials have confirmed that there are “no credible reports” to support such allegations.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, labeled Trump’s assertion as a “conspiracy theory” rooted in racist notions.