President Trump Fulfills Campaign Promise, Ends TPS for Over 500,000 Haitian Immigrants
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a move that has drawn both praise and criticism, President Donald J. Trump’s administration has officially ended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 500,000 Haitian immigrants, fulfilling a controversial promise he made during his 2016 presidential campaign.
The decision was announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which cited improved conditions in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake that originally prompted the humanitarian designation. TPS had allowed Haitians to live and work legally in the United States without fear of deportation. With the program’s termination, affected individuals will now face the possibility of removal or will need to seek alternative legal pathways to remain in the country.
“Conditions in Haiti have significantly improved,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. “The extraordinary but temporary conditions that led to Haiti’s designation no longer exist.”
The policy change is expected to have a widespread impact, particularly in cities such as Miami, New York, and Boston, where large Haitian communities have long thrived. Many TPS recipients have lived in the U.S. for over a decade, have built families, started businesses, and contributed to their local economies.
Critics of the move argue that the decision ignores ongoing instability in Haiti, including political unrest, economic hardship, and public health challenges. Immigration advocacy groups, faith leaders, and members of Congress have condemned the action as inhumane and potentially destabilizing for thousands of mixed-status families.
“This is a cruel and shortsighted decision that rips families apart,” said Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), whose Brooklyn district includes a large Haitian-American population. “It ignores the realities on the ground in Haiti.”
Supporters of the decision, however, argue that TPS was never meant to provide permanent residency and that extending it indefinitely undermines the law’s original intent.
“President Trump is restoring integrity to our immigration system,” said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. “TPS is meant to be temporary not a backdoor to permanent residency.”
DHS officials say Haitian TPS holders will be given a grace period to prepare for departure or seek alternative status, though the timeline remains unclear. Legal challenges to the decision are expected.
The termination of TPS for Haitians follows similar decisions made earlier in the Trump administration for nationals of Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Sudan, signaling a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy toward ending temporary protections granted after natural disasters or conflict.
About TPS
Temporary Protected Status is a federal immigration status granted to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. It does not lead to permanent residency and must be renewed periodically by the Department of Homeland Security.