Democrats are furious after the administration of President Donald Trump announced that the Temporary Protected Status for Haiti is being terminated.
“The TPS designation for the country expires on Aug. 3, 2025, and the termination will be effective on Tuesday, September 2, 2025,” the Department of Homeland Security, led by Kristi Noem, said in a press release.
“At least 60 days before a TPS designation expires, the Secretary, after consultation with appropriate U.S. government agencies, is required to review the conditions in a country designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions supporting the designation continue to be met, and if so, how long to extend the designation,” the press release said.
“This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary,” a DHS spokesperson added.
“The environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home. We encourage these individuals to take advantage of the Department’s resources in returning to Haiti, which can be arranged through the CBP Home app. Haitian nationals may pursue lawful status through other immigration benefit requests, if eligible,” they said.
“After conferring with interagency partners, Secretary Noem determined that conditions in Haiti no longer meet the TPS statutory requirements. The Secretary’s decision was based on a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services review of the conditions in Haiti and in consultation with the Department of State,” the press release continued.
“The Secretary determined that, overall, country conditions have improved to the point where Haitians can return home in safety. She further determined that permitting Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States,” it said.
Predictably, the decision set off a firestorm among Democrats who accused the administration of “cruelty” and “racism.”
“Haiti is overrun by violent gangs. Ripping legal status from 500,000 Haitians and forcing them back will be deadly. TPS holders work hard and have no criminal record—nobody is better off from this cruelty. I will fight to protect our Haitian community from harm,” Democrat Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said on X.
“DHS claims Haiti is ‘safe enough’ to end TPS, but the State Dept warns Americans not to travel due to kidnappings and crime. The Trump Admin is actively lying to justify ending TPS amid a deadly humanitarian crisis. This is a deliberate act of cruelty,” Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost said.
“Conditions in Haiti are worsening by the hour. The Trump Admin’s decision to terminate TPS for Haitians, including thousands who call Florida home, is a cruel, reckless move that puts lives in danger and turns our back on Haitian American families fleeing violence and chaos,” another Florida Democrat, Rep. Lois Frankel, said.
Longtime enemy of Trump, New York Attorney General Letitia James, got in on the act as well.
“This is cruel and shameful. Ending TPS for our Haitian neighbors will only put them in danger, tear families apart, and damage our economy,” she said.
“Since taking office, I’ve been clear that abruptly ending TPS for Haitians will tear families apart and send people who followed the rules to come here legally into certain danger. The Administration’s decision to terminate TPS is reckless and wrong. I will continue to fight against this cruel decision,” Florida Rep. Laura Gillen said.
“Even those of us who served in Haiti (did 2 tours) can’t start to imagine the hell it is now,” Luis Moreno, a former head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Haiti, said.
“Ruled by gangs, airports closed, rampant starvation closing in, and a totally failed state. We know what this is–blatant racism,” he said.
“Ending TPS for Haitians is cruel and dangerous, and a continuation of President Trump’s racist and anti-immigrant practices,” Amnesty International said.
“The U.S. government must reverse this inhumane decision immediately,” it said.
