Temporary Protective Status for Haitians Ends: What's Next?

7/9/2026

responding faithfully in solidarity

Last month we celebrated World Refugee Day to honor the courage and resilience of the millions of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict. This month we turn our attention to the ongoing struggle of communities seeking Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States, particularly the Haitian community, who have just had their TPS status rescinded after the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the administration's decision to terminate their TPS.

Haiti remains locked in a severe humanitarian crisis driven by compounding natural disasters and a near-total collapse of governance. The intersection of catastrophic earthquakes, systemic political instability, and widespread paramilitary violence has left millions of citizens vulnerable to harm.

Remains of Baptiste Church in Haiti following August 2021 earthquake. Photo: ACT Alliance

In 2021, Haiti was hit by a massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the southern peninsula. This disaster displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and deepened severe food and clean water shortages caused by the impact of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and a 7.0 earthquake in 2010, which killed more than 200,000 people and leveled the capital of Port-au-Prince. The recovery from these compounding disasters was further strained by the assassination of former Haitian President, Jovenel Moïse in 2021, which sent the country deeper into turmoil.

Volunteers of the relief effort in Haiti after the August 2021 earthquake. Photo: ACT Alliance

With the United States Refugee Admissions Program frozen since January 2025 and cities across the U.S. seeing dramatic escalations in immigration enforcement, various communities of asylum seekers have faced an onslaught of diminishing protections and expanding threats. Now it is more important than ever to gather in faithful solidarity to learn how we can support our neighbors who are trying to exercise their right to seek refuge.

Two months ago I was sitting in immigration court as an observer when a Haitian man was called up in front of the judge for his master calendar hearing, the starting point for deportation proceedings. The judge asked him if he wanted to designate a country of removal, should he be ordered deported from the United States. The man relayed through the interpreter that he was not safe in Haiti but he had nowhere else he could go. When the judge asked the lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security where they would designate as the country of removal, the attorney said "Haiti," causing the man, who was not represented by an attorney who could explain his options to him, considerable distress.

Because the Supreme Court ruled that the administration can terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, 350,000 people are now at risk of ending up right where this man was, at risk for deportation with no knowledge of what kinds of relief they might be eligible for. That is why on July 15th at 4:00pm eastern time Week of Compassion is hosting a webinar with Disciples Immigration Attorney, Jonelle Ocloo for Haitian churches, and those willing to respond in solidarity, to learn the implications of this Supreme Court ruling and answer questions. You can register here.

Grace and Peace,