The Trump administration made a significant move on Thursday by revoking protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitian nationals residing in the United States. This action puts these individuals at risk of deportation as early as this summer, as noted in official documents and statements from the Department of Homeland Security.

Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, signed the decision recently, marking another chapter in President Trump’s extensive efforts to tighten immigration policies. This includes actions affecting individuals who had been permitted to stay in the country under the Biden administration.

The Haitians impacted by this decision had been living in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program designed to provide relief for individuals unable to return home due to natural disasters or armed conflicts. Over 500,000 Haitians in the U.S. qualify for this status.

Before departing from office, President Joe Biden had extended their protections for an additional 18 months. However, on Thursday, Secretary Noem canceled that extension, which means these protections will now terminate in August instead of the previously set date of next February.

Noem now faces the decision of whether to terminate TPS for Haitians entirely, a move that seems imminent. Critics of the TPS, including Trump, argue that it is being misused, serving as a long-term avenue for residency rather than its intended purpose.

Many Haitian migrants have benefited from these protections since 2010, following a devastating earthquake in their homeland, when the Obama administration first granted them this status.

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