Ten members of the U.S. Congress, including Haitian-American Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, have sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, condemning the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. According to them, this decision endangers the safety of Haitians living in the United States and contradicts the country’s humanitarian commitments.
The letter was initiated by Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson and co-signed by several lawmakers, including Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Joe Courtney, James P. McGovern, Gerald E. Connolly, Gwen S. Moore, William R. Keating, Terri A. Sewell, Nydia M. Velázquez, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr., Seth Magaziner, and Sarah McBride. These officials express deep concern over this decision, which could impact thousands of Haitian nationals legally residing in the United States under TPS protection.
In their letter, the lawmakers emphasize that conditions in Haiti remain extremely precarious. The country is experiencing a severe security and humanitarian crisis, marked by a surge in violence, with more than 5,000 deaths and 2,000 injuries recorded in 2022, according to the United Nations.
Political instability persists: Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, Haiti has been facing an unprecedented institutional crisis. The economy is in decline, poverty is worsening, and the country’s infrastructure is incapable of handling a sudden influx of returnees.
The signatories stress that the conditions that initially justified Haiti’s TPS designation not only persist but have worsened, making any deportation of Haitian nationals dangerous and irresponsible.
The lawmakers also denounce a drastic shift in U.S. immigration policy toward Haiti. The Trump administration is reversing a previous decision by former Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who had extended Haiti’s TPS designation.
They also criticize recent statements from a DHS spokesperson, claiming that the TPS system has been “abused and exploited for decades.” According to them, these remarks are unfounded and unfair, noting that TPS was established under a Republican administration and maintained by both parties to address humanitarian crises worldwide.
The signatories urge the administration to reconsider its decision and extend TPS for Haiti. They also call for closer collaboration between the government, humanitarian organizations, and the Haitian diaspora to find lasting solutions to the current crisis.
While awaiting an official response, this decision is causing deep concern among the thousands of Haitian TPS beneficiaries, who risk becoming undocumented in the United States or being forced to return to a country in chaos.