The same day Geslain Luma, a 29-year-old Haitian immigrant, found out he was granted temporary protected status (TPS) to stay in the U.S., President Donald Trump announced plans to end the program. “The end of TPS gives me a headache,” Luma says, reflecting on the uncertainty ahead.
For over 15 years, TPS has allowed thousands of Haitians to live and work legally in the U.S., helping them avoid deportation while Haiti struggles with political chaos, gang violence, and economic hardship.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, armed gangs have taken control of much of Port-au-Prince, leaving the country in a power vacuum. This has fueled even more violence, homelessness, and hunger. In fact, over 5,600 people were killed, and 1,400 were kidnapped in gang-related violence last year, according to the United Nations. The violence has also left over 1 million people homeless, with many living in makeshift shelters, making the country’s economic crisis even worse.
Now, with the Trump administration’s decision to end TPS by August 2025, around 500,000 Haitian immigrants in the U.S. face an uncertain future. They must figure out whether to stay and fight for legal status or prepare to return to a country still reeling from crisis.
Many of these immigrants fled Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake, which killed over 200,000 people and left 1.3 million homeless. They sought refuge in the U.S., where TPS gave them a chance to rebuild their lives. However, TPS was never intended to be a permanent solution.
The program’s end will create major disruption for many who have jobs, are attending school, and are deeply embedded in their communities. For those facing the possibility of deportation, the thought of returning to Haiti is overwhelming. The country’s instability remains a major concern.
Immigrant advocacy groups are calling for legislative action to protect TPS holders, pushing for a pathway to residency for those who have lived in the U.S. for years. A group of organizations filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to block the Trump administration’s attempt to end TPS for Haitians early.
