Haitian migrants line the floor of the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Sonora, hoping to speak with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on Oct. 23, 2016.
© Nick Oza/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(New York, NY) – Reversing a move enacted by President Biden, the Trump White House is removing temporary protected status for Haitian migrants. Biden put TPS into place temporarily for Haitian migrants last June, amid the ongoing domestic turmoil and civil war conditions on the Caribbean island.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the TPS protections are ending. The move falls in line with the Trump White House’s efforts to crackdown on illegal migration, including pushback against claims of asylum.
Political unrest and widespread violence has plagued Haiti for years. But things have been especially intense since 2020, including gang fighting in the capital Port-au-Prince. President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in 2021, adding to the instability. On top of that, hurricanes and other natural disasters routinely cause issues for Haiti.
Also, Haiti faces food insecurity. There’s been mass migration away from the island amid all of the violence and economic issues.
