Updated Feb 20, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Trump rolls back protections for about 520,000 Haitian migrants

Sareen Habeshian

Immigrants from Haiti, who crossed through a gap in the U.S.-Mexico border barrier, wait in line to be processed by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 20, 2022 in Yuma, Arizona. Title 42, the controversial pandemic-era border policy enacted by former President Trump, which cites COVID-19 as the reason to — Immigrants from Haiti wait in line to be processed by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 20, 2022, in Yuma, Arizona. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The Trump administration is rolling back protections for Haitian migrants in the U.S., allowing hundreds of thousands of people to be targeted for deportations this summer, the Department of Homeland said Thursday.

The big picture: The move is a part of President Trump's vow to crack down on illegal immigration, and comes after he amplified baseless claims about the Haitian American community on the campaign trail.

Trump said at the time that he'd end Temporary Protect Status (TPS) designations for Haitians as he and his surrogates spread false information about Haitian immigrants in Ohio.

Driving the news: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem vacated a decision Thursday from the Biden administration to extend Haitians TPS by 18 months.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had extended TPS for Haitians until February 2026 before Trump took office.
Noem's move ends TPS eligibility for an estimated 520,000 Haitians as of Aug. 3, 2025, unless extended.

Zoom in: TPS shields immigrants who entered the U.S. without authorization or overstayed visas.

In addition to being safe from deportation, TPS recipients qualify for work permits and can also pursue asylum while they have TPS.
Only people from certain countries qualify for the program.

What they're saying: A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that President Biden and Mayorkas "attempted to tie the hands of the Trump administration by extending Haiti's Temporary Protected Status by 18 months—far longer than justified or necessary."

The spokesperson added: "President Trump and Secretary Noem are returning TPS to its original status: temporary."

Flashback: Trump attempted to end TPS designations for several countries during his first term.

However, a federal judge's injunction stopped the change as a court battle played out. A three-judge appeals court panel sided with Trump, but the decision was appealed again, so TPS remained in place. Biden later reversed Trump's decision.

Go deeper: Axios Explains: The past and present of Temporary Protected Status

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.

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Trump rolls back protections for about 520,000 Haitian migrants

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