The U.S. government will end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians in August 2025, despite the precarious situation in Haiti, where gangs control 85% of the capital and sexual violence against children has increased by 1,000%. This status is granted to nationals of crisis-stricken countries, but the end of TPS will mean the loss of work permits and the risk of deportation for Haitians who have been living in the United States since 2010. In February, the Trump administration also announced the termination of TPS for Venezuelans, a decision that is currently being challenged in court.
This decision has been widely criticized, notably by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who called it “shameful” as violence in Haiti reaches unbearable levels. In 2023, more than 5,600 people were killed in gang violence. The Trump administration, which has promised “mass deportations,” has also been accused of exploiting the TPS system to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain protected status, which it justifies as a necessary reform.