The administration of US President Donald Trump announced on Friday the permanent revocation of the temporary protected status (TPS) granted under Democrat Joe Biden to approximately 520,000 Haitians in the United States, making them subject to deportation by September.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem concluded that conditions in Haiti have sufficiently improved for Haitians to return safely, according to a statement from her office.
However, the US State Department still advises against travel to Haiti due to the risk of kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare services.
Trump has prioritised the fight against illegal immigration, describing it as an “invasion” by “foreign criminals” and frequently highlighting immigrant deportations.
His administration previously revoked the TPS of around 350,000 Venezuelans and some 11,000 Afghans.
The TPS programme provides protection from deportation and work rights to immigrants whose safety is compromised due to conflicts, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions in their home countries.
In February, the Department of Homeland Security had already announced the withdrawal of an 18-month extension of TPS for Haitians that was to have lasted until February 2026, meaning their status was set to expire on 3 August 2025.
The DHS confirmed in a statement on Friday that the final expiration date for Haitians with TPS will be “effective on 2 September.”
"Permitting Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to US national interest," Kristi Noem said, without further explanation.
Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has been overwhelmed by violent gangs accused of murders, rapes, and kidnappings.
In the context of chronic political instability, a record number of nearly 1.3 million people have been internally displaced in the Caribbean country due to gang violence, the UN reported on 11 June.
At least 2,680 people were killed in gang violence in Haiti from January to May, according to the UN.
