Biden Revokes Temporary Protected Status for 500,000 Haitians, Prompting Legal Challenge
Washington, D.C. – The Biden administration has withdrawn Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 500,000 Haitian immigrants, a decision that could result in job loss and deportation.
TPS provides temporary residency and work permits to nationals from countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary hardship. Haiti has been designated for TPS since 2010 due to a devastating earthquake.
Criticism of TPS
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified its decision by citing concerns that the TPS system has been "exploited and abused for decades." The agency argued that data showed individuals who entered the United States illegally were able to obtain TPS protection. According to DHS, the number of Haitians eligible for TPS has surged from an estimated 57,000 in 2011 to over 520,000 as of July 2022.
Political Divide
Republican lawmakers have been vocal critics of TPS, alleging that it provides unlawful immigrants with a path to permanent residency. Democratic lawmakers, on the other hand, generally support TPS as a humanitarian measure that provides temporary relief for people fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries.
Legal Challenges
Two non-profit groups, the Haitian Bridge Alliance and the National Immigration Law Center, have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s decision to terminate TPS for Haitians. The lawsuit argues that the administration failed to adequately consider the humanitarian crisis in Haiti before making its decision.
Humanitarian Concerns
Haiti has been plagued by violence and political instability since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Criminal gangs control an estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince, and recent massacres have claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians. Over a million Haitians are estimated to have been displaced by gang violence.
Advocates’ Argument
Tessa Petit, a Haitian-American who serves as executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, decried the decision to revoke TPS for Haitians. "It is absolutely inhumane to send 500,000 people back to a country where there is so much death," she said.
Petit argued that Haiti continues to meet the criteria for TPS designation due to widespread gang violence, political instability, and natural disasters. She urged the Biden administration to reconsider its decision and extend TPS for Haitians.
Implications for Other TPS Programs
The Biden administration’s move to revoke TPS for Haitians is part of a larger effort to scale back the program. The Trump administration previously terminated TPS for Venezuelans and is expected to announce the end of TPS for other countries, including Nicaragua and El Salvador.
The termination of TPS for Haitians and other countries could have significant implications for the approximately one million immigrants who currently rely on the program for protection. Many will face the choice of returning to dangerous or unstable homelands or living in the United States without legal status.
Conclusion
The Biden administration’s decision to revoke TPS for Haitians has sparked intense debate and legal challenges. The decision underscores the ongoing political and humanitarian challenges associated with temporary protective status and raises concerns about the fate of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have been living and working in the United States under TPS.
