The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it is extending and redesignating Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months until February 2026, in recognition of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country. This move will shield an additional 300,000 Haitian nationals from deportation and provide them with work permits. Haitians must have been in the U.S. as of June 3 to be eligible for TPS. The protection is provided to nationals from countries where it is deemed unsafe for them to return based on armed ongoing conflict, environmental disasters, or “extraordinary and temporary conditions.”
Haiti continues to face violence, insecurity, and limited access to safety, healthcare, food, and water. The country is prone to natural disasters such as flooding, mudslides, storms, and earthquakes. This ongoing humanitarian crisis has created urgent needs for the people of Haiti. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that by providing this humanitarian relief to Haitians already present in the U.S., the government is fulfilling its obligation to the core objective of the TPS law. The redesignation of Haiti for TPS aims to address the challenging conditions in the country.
Currently, there are 16 countries designated for TPS, including Venezuela, Ukraine, Honduras, El Salvador, and Afghanistan. The use of TPS has faced criticism from Republicans and immigration hawks, who argue that it encourages illegal immigration from these countries as people anticipate the next redesignation. The Biden administration has taken steps to address the crisis at the southern border, including limiting asylum applications and implementing a “parole in place” for certain spouses of U.S. citizens. The administration has reported a 40% drop in encounters since the limit on asylum applications was announced.
The U.S. has seen an influx of Haitian nationals at the border, with 163,781 encounters in Fiscal Year 2023, a number that has already been surpassed in Fiscal Year 2024. The Biden administration has allowed Haitians to be flown into the U.S. as part of the parole processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. This program permits 30,000 nationals to enter the country each month. As the country grapples with a three-year crisis at the border, the issue has become a key political focus ahead of the upcoming election.
Former President Trump has criticized President Biden’s handling of the border crisis, blaming his administration’s policies for the situation. Trump accused Biden of causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and endangering U.S. citizens with policies that have led to a chaotic border situation. While the Biden administration has made efforts to address the crisis, including seeking more funding and reforms from Congress, there is ongoing debate and criticism surrounding the issue. The Biden administration’s decision to extend and redesignate Haiti for TPS reflects its commitment to addressing the humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations in the country.
