US Temporary Protected Status for Haitians Nears End
Family Reunification Affected by Policy Change
In Lakeland, Florida, 16-year-old Marven resides with his adoptive mother, Stacey Nageli Angulo. Three years prior, Marven was reunited with his biological mother, Guerline, and sister, Rochelle, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States. Marven had been adopted from Haiti by Stacey at age three, following the 2010 earthquake. Guerline and Rochelle obtained legal residency in the US three years ago through a humanitarian scheme established in 2023, amidst escalating gang violence in Haiti.
Impending Termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Guerline and Rochelle currently hold Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a designation offering protection to individuals from countries affected by conflict or natural disaster. This status is scheduled to conclude for approximately 350,000 Haitians in February 2025, aligning with immigration policy adjustments from the US President Donald Trump's administration. The Department for Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that Haiti's environmental situation has sufficiently improved for citizens to return safely.
Conversely, the US government's official travel advisory warns its citizens against travel to Haiti due to reported risks including kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, and civil unrest. The US immigration service has cited difficulties in vetting migrants and obtaining information from Haitian law enforcement agencies, alongside the "serious threat posed by Haitian gangs," as rationales for discontinuing the program for Haitians. A DHS spokesperson previously indicated that the TPS program had been subjected to abuse and exploitation. Individuals whose TPS status ends are provided options to leave voluntarily or pursue other immigration avenues.
Personal Accounts and Conditions in Haiti
Prior to their arrival in the US, Guerline lived in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, where she faced significant challenges in providing for her children. She describes the decision to offer Marven for adoption as difficult, made with the aim of securing a better future for him. Both Rochelle and Guerline express apprehension regarding a potential return to Haiti, citing reports of widespread gang violence. According to the UN, this violence has displaced a tenth of Haiti's population, with documented increases in kidnappings and killings. Rochelle reported experiencing fear of kidnapping during her time in Port-au-Prince. Currently in the US, Guerline is employed at a hotel, and Rochelle works at both a supermarket and a nursery, with aspirations of becoming a nurse.
Broader Implications and Political Perspectives
Over one million individuals from 20 countries have received TPS protection since the program's inception in 1990. This year, TPS has concluded for citizens from six countries: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Legal challenges have contributed to delays in the termination of TPS for Haitians.
In Miami, Monique, a Haitian woman who has resided in the US for over 16 years, faces deportation. She arrived legally under a humanitarian program before transitioning to TPS in 2010. Her husband holds permanent residency, her daughter is a US citizen, and her son has a pending green card application. Monique has also articulated concerns regarding the safety conditions in Haiti.
Stacey Nageli Angulo, Marven's adoptive mother and a past supporter of President Trump, has expressed concerns regarding the deportations to Haiti, while affirming support for immigration law enforcement and the deportation of criminals. In contrast, Sam Romain, chair of the Polk County Republicans in Florida, stated that TPS is a temporary status and that individuals established lives with awareness of this condition. He deferred to official judgments concerning Haiti's safety assessments.